Want to read this book. Been interested in Berenger for a long time. Book cover description:In 1884 in southern France, sixteen-year-old Marie Denarnaud's family is forced to move when their house burns to the ground. The find a new home in nearby Rennes-le-Chateau, a beautiful village set among hills steeped in history--from stories of a Visigothic presence in the Dark Ages, to tales of Cathar heretics who may have fled crusaders through rumored underground passages, to rumors of gold buried in the caves that perforate the hillsides. Marie and her family face a chilly welcome in Rennes until the day a new parish priest is assigned to the village. By coincidence, the charismatic young priest is a friend of Marie's mother, and because his presbytery is in ruins, Berenger Sauniere takes up temporary residence with the Denarnauds. Young Marie is enthralled by the passionate Berenger and she revels in his priestly attention, though heavily conflicted by her own growing attraction to him.Meanwhile, Berenger has attracted the patronage of a wealthy aristocrat who is willing to fund reconstruction of the church. His only condition is that Berenger keep an eye out for anything unusual he might find. Marie begins to suspect that the request has to do with the local legend of a woman who claimed to be descended from the bloodline of Jesus Christ and Mary Magdalene. Berenger grows secretive, even as their affection deepens, and Marie must seek the truth without his help.Historically lush, full of romance and intrigue, The Priest's Madonna blends fact and fiction. Interweaving scenes of ancient Judea with the spiritual journey of a vibrant and intense heroine, it tells a mesmerizing tale of faith, doubt, forbidden love, and illicit passion.
Not that I am an authority on french life in this time, but I thought the period elements were marvelously constructed. I had to remind myself that this was written by a modern author casting her mind backward in time. Very believable. I loved the characters as well. The focus on the historical elements did not detract from the characterization at all.The story is engrossing. I think I like best how there are some plot elements that are not truly answered. I don't think they should not have been, similar to Tartt's "The Little Friend." Without going spoiler here, doing otherwise I think would have made this a sensational book rather than an interesting novel. The way it was handled made the story line gratifying to read without becoming overly predictable or shocking just to provoke reaction.
