Here we have a book that is filled with interesting contradictions and relationships! It is a work of Historical Fiction, which, at least to me, makes the story that much more compelling.

The main story takes place between around 1884 and 1917 in a small village in France. Marie and her family, (her parents, foster sister, and younger brother) move into this small village due to some misfortune, and are not greeted very warmly at all. Marie is sixteen years old at the time. Soon, a friend of her mother’s comes to live with the family. Berenger Sauniere is good looking and charismatic, and catches the attention and affection of young Marie. Unfortunately for both of them, the reason he has moved to the village is because he was assigned there. He is the new priest. These two people really did exist, and while Hassinger has used some known facts about the two people and how they lived, she also has imagined a great story to fill in the gaps, creating a wonderful tale of Historical Fiction.
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