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Rosalind Laker
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Brilliance Kindle Edition

by Rosalind Laker (Author) Format: Kindle Edition
4.0 4.0 out of 5 stars 24 ratings
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After a shattering betrayal, a Frenchwoman finds a new role during the birth of the film industry, in a “truly interesting” historical novel (Booklist).
 
When Lisette Decourt discovers her fiancé in the arms of her newly widowed stepmother, she flees her Paris home in shock and sorrow. Her wanderings bring her in contact with Daniel Shaw—a traveling “lanternist” who tells stories through a strange new art known as slide projection.
 
Learning more about moving pictures, Lisette finds her passion for film growing—along with her passion for the Englishman Daniel. But their love will be tested as fate threatens to pull them away from each other, and as Lisette follows her path to becoming one of the first movie stars of the twentieth century.
 
“The birth of the film industry is just as much a character in Laker's tale as Lisette, who overcomes personal tragedies to triumph in a truly interesting and wonderfully informative story.” —Booklist
 
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  1. Print length
    334 pages
  2. Language
    English
  3. Sticky notes
    On Kindle Scribe
  4. Publisher
    Severn House
  5. Publication date
    August 1, 2012
  6. File size
    1731 KB
  7. Page Flip
    Enabled
  8. Word Wise
    Enabled
  9. Enhanced typesetting
    Enabled
  10. See all details
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Editorial Reviews

From Booklist

After her grandmother's death, Lisette Decourt moves in with her estranged father and stepmother in Paris and is promptly sent to boarding school. When she returns, her father dies, and Lisette is about to marry when she comes upon her fiancé and stepmother in the act. She packs up and runs away. It is the end of the nineteenth century, and Lisette's journey brings her in contact with a traveling lanternist, who specializes in telling stories through slide projection. She accompanies him and learns all there is to know about his work and the development of moving pictures. He has great plans for his future as a creator of films, but one night of passion causes Lisette to run away again. Through various travails, she finds her way back to him and eventually becomes one of the first movie stars of the twentieth century. The birth of the film industry is just as much a character in Laker's tale as Lisette, who overcomes personal tragedies to triumph in a truly interesting and wonderfully informative story. Hatton, Maria
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved

About the Author

ROSALIND LAKER is the author of many novels, including ""To Dance with Kings"" and ""The Golden Tulip,"" She lives in England.

""From the Trade Paperback edition.""

Product details

  • ASIN ‏ : ‎ B008MQ7ZSE
  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ Severn House (August 1, 2012)
  • Publication date ‏ : ‎ August 1, 2012
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • File size ‏ : ‎ 1731 KB
  • Text-to-Speech ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Screen Reader ‏ : ‎ Supported
  • Enhanced typesetting ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • X-Ray ‏ : ‎ Not Enabled
  • Word Wise ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Sticky notes ‏ : ‎ On Kindle Scribe
  • Print length ‏ : ‎ 334 pages
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.0 4.0 out of 5 stars 24 ratings

About the author

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Rosalind Laker

Rosalind Laker

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Customer reviews

4 out of 5 stars
4 out of 5
24 global ratings

Top reviews from the United States

Sandra Faye McClendon
5.0 out of 5 stars Very Good!!!!
Reviewed in the United States on October 19, 2013
Verified Purchase
I love Rosalind Laker's books, this was a enjoyable read, my favorite is To Dance With Kings. I will read more of her books.
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Book Eater
3.0 out of 5 stars Not satisfying
Reviewed in the United States on May 16, 2020
Verified Purchase
Ok this book was great until it abruptly ended. Like getting cold water after becoming engaged with characters. I was left feeling like 20% of the book was missing.
Read the Golden Tulip or Circle of Pearls instead. She is a great writer but something went wrong with this book.
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Tara
4.0 out of 5 stars The Story is Not As Racy as the Front Cover, but Good
Reviewed in the United States on January 1, 2009
Decent novel. I thoroughly enjoyed it and it was an easy, light read. Perfect for a sick day. The story is about a young girl in Paris and follows her as she loses her beloved grandmother, then her father, and then the betrayal of her fiance. A very high strung, independent spirit, she runs off with a traveling lanternist. I enjoyed this insight into the early days of "moving pictures" and I wish there had been more. Later into the novel, and not till chapter eighteen, she actually starts acting in the early movies. I feel that part of her life was rushed. The book could have been longer, giving even more insight into the beginning of the movie industry, but still a good read. There is also a nice romance mixed in, but nothing racy, as the front cover may have you believing.
One person found this helpful
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Kindle Customer
5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent story line
Reviewed in the United States on January 3, 2013
The story captured me from start to finish. I favor a historical romance novel and Brilliance did not disappoint me. Rosalind Laker has developed all the characters and still left room for some unexpected turn of events to keep the story interesting. I will look forward to future novels penned by Laker.
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Ellie Svien
3.0 out of 5 stars Love Rosalind Laker...Like Brillance
Reviewed in the United States on March 20, 2013
I have read most of Rosalind Laker's books since I started with To Dance with King in high schhol. I know they are a little predictable and a tad cheesey, but to a female history buff and a hopeless romantic they are a pretty good read.
Brillance was good, but not great. It contained a likeable main character and great historical detail, but I felt the pacing of the book was all wrong. The exciting parts were too short and the connecting details to long and detailed. There were several sub plots that I felt were left dangling along the way. I also did not care for the ending. Why rush to get to WWI just to stop there?
Like I said it was a like not a love, but be sure my next Kindle purchase will be another Rosalind Laker!
One person found this helpful
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Sorrows
2.0 out of 5 stars Disappointing
Reviewed in the United States on January 6, 2009
Verified Purchase
I bought this novel because I love the time period and the subject matter (the beginnings of the film industry.) I'd also read Laker's THE GOLDEN TULIP and found it entertaining. Finally, I have to give credit to the publishers--the cover is brilliant. The cover, I'm afraid, is the best part of the novel.

Stilted writing, too-perfect, over-the-top, characters, a story line which lacks depth and believability--it all makes for a book that just isn't all that interesting. I couldn't finish it.

I think the above flaws may also be found in Laker's other novels as well, but one doesn't notice them so much in stories that take place so many centuries ago; it's just more jarring in a story set in a relatively modern time period.
2 people found this helpful
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Amanda
2.0 out of 5 stars Wandering a bit aimlessly
Reviewed in the United States on April 19, 2019
It wasn't a terrible story but I just didn't feel all that compelled by it. This girl has fairly good fortune after each tragedy. Feels a bit forced. Just a little too yoyo.
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Top reviews from other countries

Patricia Langley
3.0 out of 5 stars Brilliance.
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on May 9, 2014
Verified Purchase
This is a well written book with some good twists and turns but suffers from the same problems as some of her other books, where the Hero and Heroine are steriotyped. Maybe it is better to read a different author between her novels.
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Amazon Customer
4.0 out of 5 stars Four Stars
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on April 25, 2015
Verified Purchase
enjoyable read
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