Amanda McIntyre, The Diary of Cozette

The Diary of Cozette

Amanda McIntyre

Harlequin Spice, Oct 2008, $13.95

ISBN: 9780373605255

In 1869, soon to turn fourteen Anne Cozette Bennett is the youngest of and one of only two surviving seven children. She learns from her widowed mom that she is sending her to live with her aunt and uncle as she lacks the strength to raise her and care for her dying brother. Aunt Eleanor is stern in demanding Cozette study her lessons and helps the housemaid with simple chores. However, her three year older cousin Edward continually molests her while Eleanor holds her niece culpable. He tells his parents she stripped and they believe him as he is from good grooming and she is fifth. Haggard Uncle Fredericks sends his niece away to an orphanage as Edward evilly smiles.

However, her second lesson occurs when the orphanage owner sells her virginity to the highest bidder. Her friend Ernest helps her to escape before the sale is completed. She lives on the street garbed as a boy before finding a prostitute who mentors her on the art of pleasing men for money. Lord and lady Archibald hire her as a maid. Cozette is happy until she meets Lord Francois Deveraux who plays her like a virtuoso breaking her heart, but not her soul.

This first person account of the Victorian life of a female not of the aristocracy is a superb historical. Cozette makes the tale as she learns plenty of hard lessons from her encounters with so called upright citizens; she becomes nineteenth century street smart. Amanda McIntyre provides a deep 'autobiographical' tale as 'The Diary Of Cozette' is a fascinating look from a victim's perspective of those who abuse their power.

Harriet Klausner