Critical Praise

"In the magnificent Belle, Loraine Despres has once again created a character to delight, entertain, and inspire us all, even those of us a few generations further along. Despres has a talent for cooking up plenty of sensual southern sultriness --- and a sharp eye for memorable period detail --- but what captivated me most was her ominous portrayal of just how easily petty greed and local resentments can fester into home-grown evil. Belle's story, in the end, is more than a saucy romp; it's a cautionary tale for our own uneasy times."

——Julie Glass, National Book Award Winner for 'Three Junes

"Young widow tosses caution-and bloomers-to the wind in 1920s Louisiana."

——Kirkus Magazine