"Veronique's Journey by Patti Flinn takes readers on a compelling journey through 18th century France, where Véronique Clair grapples with societal expectations and her own dreams of independence through her talent for embroidery. Torn between familial duty and personal aspirations, Véronique's story is a poignant exploration of courage and resilience in the face of societal norms."

My thoughts: I usually prefer full-length books to truly get invested in the characters, but I really enjoyed this novella. I read it in one sitting and found myself deeply invested in Véronique's story. It provides an excellent premise for a longer series that could further explore themes such as racism, classism, and sexism.

If you are on the hunt for diverse historical romance, consider adding this one to your shelf. I appreciated knowing that the genre is growing and not limited to European "royalty."

I'm ready for the next installment!

Véronique's Journey takes us to 18th century France. An interesting period in time where France faced a mounting economic crisis. It's food supply being rapidly outpaced by a rapidly growing population. While a work of fiction, this novella sets the tone for life in that time period and in that climate, very well. Especially for main character Véronique whose choices are limited as a young black woman on a journey of self-identification and discovery.

Véronique is not as young as many of the women she knows in society who have successfully married and elevated their family's social status. She is 23 years old, a Black woman, and the daughter of a free Black woman born in France and a freed Black father from Saint Domingue. And yet, there is nothing typical about Véronique: she can read, is educated and is one of the best seamstresses around. She dreams of one day using her talents to make her own way, but that is not her parents wish. So when their matchmaking skills finally land on a suitor who is interested in her, it becomes the cause of her angst and grief.

This novella is tight, concise and beautifully rendered. It reads like a screenplay and while it is short, it is neither too fast nor too slow in its pacing. I love historical fiction done right and I look forward to continuing on and reading Véronique's Moon as she journeys into the culmination of her choices, in search of true love and happiness.

Thank you NetGalley for providing me an e-ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review!

I absolutely loved this short novella! I'm a huge fan of historical fiction, but I especially love books of fiction and nonfiction alike that talk about subjects in history that people tried to cover up. For this book, Veronique's Journey explored the lives of freed Africans living in France before the French Revolution. Although I could not find exact dates and more information about slavery in French colonies, I liked how the author highlighted how Afro-french citizens were treated while leaving in France before the big revolution. Similar to America after ending slavery, the characters were not treated with respect but their society was much easier with acceptance compared to America in the past. I loved reading insight characterization of how this time period would be for those who were newly free, but I am more happy with how strong and independent the main female character became despite the societal norms that were stacked against her. In a lot of ways, the author included many sad parts, but I think it was necessary to show the development of the character and how she came to her final decision in the book. I cannot wait to see where this will lead us in the future, and I'm dying to read more from the author.

Thank you Netgalley and Gilded Orange books for access to this arc.

It was the cover that did it. I am a sucker for a pretty cover but reading that this is a story about a Black woman in 18th century France intrigued me and made me one click buy it. Veronique is quite a woman. She’s smart, educated, hard working, and determined to forge her own destiny. Her parents have raised her to be brave and she will show that in the choices she makes.

Veronique Clair knows that her parents are worried about her future. As an educated but still working class Black woman in 1788 France, she uneasily straddles two social classes. Most of the young men her age in her village are now married so even if her father – born a slave but now free since reaching France – were willing to agree to marry her to a White man, that isn’t an option. After a run-in with a handsy aristocrat, Veronique is saved by a friend though both pay a price for this. Veronique seeks and finds work in a local noble’s house, desperate to earn money and repair her reputation.

Then suddenly she is faced with two choices. Her parents have finally found a wonderful marital prospect, a Black (almost) lawyer who will lift Veronique into a higher social class and ensure she doesn’t need to work for a living. Meanwhile, her employer has secured her a place at the Chateau owned by Madame du Barry, the former mistress of King Louis XV, where Veronique will be trained as a superior servant who can command her own future. What will she choose?

“Veronique’s Journey” is actually historical fiction instead of a romance. Also note it is a novella and the first of at least two if not three books. Veronique is tough but also pragmatic. When her friend might suffer for saving her, she proposes a work arrangement to keep Guy from prison. When she gets a job in a nobleman’s household, she works hard to be better than the best. When she has the chance to marry well, she doesn’t immediately jump into an engagement but tries to discover if the man will treat her better than some of the women she’s seen in her village who are constantly pregnant and often beaten by their husbands.

Torn as to what to do, Veronique seeks the advice of her mother and her employer. One wants to see her settled for life while one tells her to decide for herself what is more important. I’m looking forward to reading the next installment to see how her choice goes. B

I was absolutely captivated reading Véronique Journey by Patti Flinn. Set during the latter days of eighteenth-century France, this novella tells the story of a young Black woman who dreams of becoming a celebrated seamstress. Firstly, it was a huge privilege to read a story about a Black woman who doesn’t conform to stereotype. Véronique may be the daughter of a slave (her father was born enslaved on the island of Saint-Domingue) but as Flinn points out Véronique’s mother (a free Black woman) was born in France to parents whose connection to the land stretches back centuries.

Véronique may not be as wealthy as the aristocrats she waits on, but neither is she destitute. Her ability to read and sew means that she does not fit comfortably within the humble village she’s grown up in. However, her skin colour makes her an object of curiosity among the gentry who have grown accustomed to equating Black people with servitude. Despite Véronique’s limited options she’s determined to make her own way in life envisioning a career as a seamstress to wealthy patrons. Somewhat big dreams for a woman living in a humble Burgundian village where the only options seems to be marriage or a life in domestic service. Véronique’s wish for independence is tested when she attracts the attention of an up and coming lawyer who belongs to the small and exclusive Black bourgeoise. But will Véronique be able to find happiness with a man who is entranced by her beauty but contemptuous of her lowly origins.

I won’t spoil the ending especially as Véronique’s journey continues in the next instalment Véronique’s Moon, but this is a very special and unique novella that deserves a wide readership. Véronique is independent without being feisty and her portrayal demonstrates that communities of colour in Europe existed long before the establishment of the trans-Atlantic slave trade and post-war immigration. My thanks to the author for allowing me to read this novel. Bravo!

I loved the story from Véronique’s POV. It’s not often Historical Fictions are about POC’s in the 18th century. It was heart wrenching and a great coming of age story. I really enjoyed it.

I throughly enjoyed reading Veronique’s Journey.
I was invested in the characters and story line but it all ended far to quickly for me. I was ready to turn to the next chapter and was saddened to find it was the end,
An intriguing glance at an era I have not read much about with a strong and well developed lead character.

The author does state that this novella is the beginnings of a larger series that I cannot wait to read,
Veronique has left quite a mark in the short time we have come to know her and I absolutely MUST find out what happens next!

Thanks to Netgalley and Gilded Orange Books for the advance copy.

"Véronique’s Journey" is a historical fiction novella set in France in 1788. Véronique is a Black woman whose parents are getting increasingly desperate to find her a good match, something that is difficult given that they are straddling class and racial lines in a way that leaves them without peers in their town. While her parents bring a variety of suitors home for Sunday dinner, Véronique is dreaming of making her own way in the world as a seamstress. When she receives an invitation to study housekeeping at the former King's mistress's estate she has to make some hard decisions about how she wants her future to unfold.

I was quite impressed with how invested I became in Véronique as a character given the relatively short length of the novella. The author also managed to weave in many social topics such as racism, classism, and sexism in a way that felt organic to the story while also being interesting and educational. Having a story that revolves around a free Black family in 18th century Europe is a unique insight into an underrepresented experience in historical fiction.

In the author's note at the end of the story, she indicates that this novella is the set up for a larger series in which Véronique will make an appearance. I'm definitely intrigued to continue on with future books and learn more about Véronique's story. Given that this novella is set just before the French Revolution and Véronique is on the road to join the household of the King's mistress, I see a lot of opportunity for a dramatic historical fiction series!

*DISCLAIMER: I received an eARC of this book from Gilded Orange Books, Independent Book Publishers Association (IBPA) through NetGalley for the purposes of providing an unbiased review.*

In 1800s France Veronique will soon be considered a spinster at twenty three. She is unwed with no viable prospects. After tragedy strikes, she must determine the future that she wants for herself and if she has to courage to grab it.
I enjoyed this book. It gave me a glimpse into a era history that I was not knowledgeable of.
Veronique must set her own path, no matter the judgement of others.
I am looking forward to more of Veroniques journey.

An empowering and heartfelt tale about a young woman with a dream in eighteenth century France.

The very concept was intriguing and refreshing: personally, I have not come across many literary works set in France with protagonists of African descent much less when said protagonist being a working-class woman. I was particularly delighted by the author's prowess in creating such nuanced characters with remarkable development in under 70 pages while gracefully tackling social issues like racism, sexism, and classism. This is quite the promising begining and I can't wait to read more of Véronique's adventures.

It’s 1788 and Véronique Clair is living a simple but happy life in rural Burgundy, France. Her parents plan to find her a well-to-do husband so that she won’t have to work, preferably someone black, like themselves. She is a sassy character, an ambitious young woman who is determined to get what suits her best in life. But what is that to be? Will she fall in with her parents’ plans for marriage or keep her independence and follow her passion to create lavish clothes for the women of the French court? She is wary of marriage, fearing that it might turn out to be another form of the slavery from which her father has escaped.
The book is a fascinating depiction of what life might have been like for a black girl of modest means in eighteenth century France. It should be said that Véronique’s attitudes are rather modern but that just makes her more relatable. This lovely little novella was written as a prequel, and it certainly whets the appetite. The characters are engaging, and I definitely want to learn what happens next for Véronique.

I want more and I want more now! The story ended too soon without finding out what happened next! More!