"Lost in Paris"

"Lost in Paris" by Elizabeth Thompson

Hannah Bond cherishes the quiet, sedate life she's created for herself in

London. Her expertise as a guide for Jane Austen-themed tours in the 

picturesque countryside, is the ideal career to showcase her love of books. 

After a chaotic childhood in Florida, with her flamboyant, alcoholic mother, 

this calm, peaceful life suits her just fine. 

So imagine Hannah's surprise and dismay, when she finds her estranged

mother, Marla, at her flat on New Year's Eve, making easy, casual 

conversation with two affable roommates hanging on her every word.

Other than sporting a beauty of a black eye from her latest boyfriend, 

Marla hasn't changed at all. With her gorgeous, auburn hair, and glittering 

knock-off jewelry, that magnetic charisma is on full display. 

How can Hannah begin to explain that her often absent mother was the

reason she fled the United States to start anew? It was the stabilizing 

influence of her grandmother and great-grandmother, that molded her 

into the woman she is today, and those memories can never be erased.  

Marla soon reveals her compelling reason for showing up unannounced

at her daughter's doorstep. She has uncovered a long-lost, mysterious deed

to an apartment in Paris, an eclectic, valuable piece of real estate the duo 

has unexpectedly inherited. Along with an ancient key, and an assortment

of yellowed, newspaper clippings, Marla and Hannah have quite suddenly

become part of a mystery just waiting to enfold.

With meticulous research, Hannah and Marla begin to piece together the 

secret, unabashedly exciting, and sometimes dangerous life, of Hannah's

great-grandmother, Ivy. Fascinating, diary entries starting in the 1920s, 

speak of raucous, bygone years that are a window into the feisty matriarch's 

life in Paris as a young girl. She writes of keeping company with literary, 

eccentric giants like Hemingway, Scott and Zelda Fitzgerald, and her undying

devotion to a famous writer. 

Why then, was she so intent on never revealing this bold and enticing part of 

her life, and how did she become the epitome of decorum in Florida, after 

experiencing the exhilaration of Paris? 

Perhaps you've visited the City of Lights in person, or just closed your eyes

and envisioned the thrill of seeing the beauty of vibrant Paris in your dreams. 

This mellow, debut novel, will take you there by simply turning the pages.  

Set to be released on April 13th, it's a romantic, historical fiction story about 

a mother and daughter putting aside the bitter past to seize upon an amazing

gift bestowed upon them, from a heart filled with love. 

 

The Widow of Rose House

The Widow of Rose House by Diana Biller

It's 1875, and Mrs.Alva Webster has returned
to Hyde Park, New York, after fleeing her
scandalous, and somewhat mysterious past in
France.

Regal, and stunningly beautiful, Alva turns
heads wherever she goes, fully aware of the
gossip and whispers about the sordid life she
supposedly flaunted behind her now deceased
husband's back.

Alva sincerely hopes that by purchasing and
refurbishing a decrepit, old mansion, and writing
a book about her adventures, she can start over,
thereby banishing memories that are too painful
to share with anyone.

She doesn't anticipate a ghost inhabiting her eerie
dwelling, one who shuns the idea of being disturbed. Nor
does Alva expect to fall madly in love with a charming,
well-known scientist from a prominent family who
wants to free the ghost's mighty hold on her
new home. Something cruel and dangerous took
place behind these walls, deeds that those in the upper
echelon of society never wanted exposed. Alva is
about to go back in time to fully understand the depth
of her nagging uneasiness every time she steps behind
creaking, ominous, closed doors.

And Alva's dead husband's dastardly, evil spirit,
isn't quite ready to let her go, even from the beyond.

This Gothic, spooky, tale takes place during the "Gilded Age",
a period of time coined by Mark Twain after The Civil War,
when many inventions came to life, like the shimmering,
electric light bulb. But beneath the glitter and shine, corruption
lurked in America. The  lavish opulence of the rich was
on display, while the common man often suffered.

There's fervent passion and witty dialogue, in this historical
romance debut that's surprisingly addictive. Numerous references
to Ohio, so removed from the hustle and bustle of New York City,
are of added interest to all of us who call the Buckeye state home.

Map of the Heart

Map of the Heart by Susan Wiggs

The arrival of a mysterious package takes a widow with an aching
heart on an adventure to France, where secrets from her father's past are waiting to be uncovered.

Camille Adams vows that she and her troubled daughter, Julie, are going to live a quiet, risk-free life in their Delaware coastal town, since a freak accident claimed her beloved husband's life five years ago. She spends days in a darkroom, using her photography skills to develop precious film that clients bring to her in the hopes of capturing memories long forgotten. She's oblivious to Julie's encounter with bullies at school or the significance of her daughter's declining self-esteem, until an alarming incident opens her eyes to reality.

Reluctantly, Camille agrees to leave the security of her tranquil town and  spend the summer with her ailing father and Julie in Provence, the place he called home as a child. The beauty and peacefulness of France begin to heal her broken heart, especially when she's in the presence of a handsome naval officer. Julie is exuberant in her new surroundings, making new friends, and experiencing the thrill of living life without fear.

Slowly and methodically, Camille's father begins to piece together the fragmented parts of what he remembers growing up in Nazi-occupied France during World War II. Stepping back in time reveals astonishing facts about his courageous mother, and the sacrifices she made during the dark days of War. By taking a look into what came before, a family finds the strength to face what lies ahead.

An emotional, mellow, romantic story that satisfies the wanderlust in all of us.

My American Duchess

My American Duchess by Eloisa James

American heiress Merry Pelford has finally found the man of her dreams in Regency England after two failed attempts at the altar. His name is Lord Cedric Allardyce. Charming and incredibly handsome, she counts her blessings that a man of his stature has come her way. There's just one problem...she's in love with his twin brother, the Duke of Trent.

Just moments after accepting Cedric's marriage proposal, Merry encounters a mysterious stranger that she immediately feels drawn to; the inexplicable attraction can't be denied. How ironic that this stranger she just met is Trent, the brother of the man she promised to marry. It is apparent that the twins do not get along, and soon Trent begins to make Merry keenly aware of his brother's love of liquor and reckless, extravagant ways. She dismisses his warnings as simply a case of wanting a woman he cannot have. That is, until her engagement is sealed, and she begins to see that Trent's forewarning of impending trouble is valid indeed. Cedric wants to mold Merry into the perfect wife. He begins to find fault in his betrothed's unconventional, embarrassing ways. And the aristocracy is not blind to the outspoken Merry, either.Trent, however, accepts her playful, unabashed enthusiasm for life wholeheartedly, quirks and all. When a social blunder shames a hostess, Trent's response to the situation has surprising results. But can their attraction be enough to ensure happiness?

 Merry wants to follow her heart but another broken engagement will certainly mean ruin for this Boston socialite. Passion with the forbidden versus a marriage to the perceived perfect match....quite a quandary for this lovely heiress.

What a perfect book selection in the month of February from an author who excels at writing historical romantic fiction.The characters come to life in a make-believe world that readers will welcome during the dreary days of winter. Some may find it just a little too sweet and far-fetched, but if you are a hopeless romantic, it may be just what you need. With wit, royal grandeur, and memorable characters, this novel perfectly embodies the intricacies (and frustrations) of love.

Along the Infinite Sea

Along the Infinite Sea by Beatriz Williams

Europe 1936 collides with swanky Palm Beach 1966 to set the stage for the final chapter in the lives of the effervescent Schuyler sisters. The focus now is on Pepper, the youngest and most volatile of the three women. This historical fiction novel is filled with romance, unbridled passion, and mystery. If you haven't read the books leading up to Pepper's adventures, no worries. This one can stand alone.

Pepper Schuyler sighs with satisfaction as she examines the sleek, black Mercedes in front of her. What a stroke of luck, finding this abandoned, valuable vehicle in the garage at her family's Cape Cod estate. Some anonymous buyer is willing to pay a great deal of money for this vintage beauty. That will secure Pepper's future, uncertain as it may be. As she stares down at her swollen, distended belly, she feels an overwhelming burst of love for her unborn child. How could a beautiful, self-assured woman like herself from a prominent ( but dysfunctional) family wind up in such a predicament? Maybe falling in love with a married, high-profile politician wasn't a wise thing to do, but with cash in hand, she can put her problems behind her....

For Annabelle Dommerich, the 1936 Mercedes is more than just an engineering masterpiece.  It's a symbol of the astounding events that shaped her life in the 1930's. She is more than willing to pay handsomely for resurrected memories. Feisty, stubborn Pepper Schuyler doesn't know the history behind the car, and Annabelle plans to keep it that way. The two women become comrades over a gleaming automobile.  Annabelle slowly offers guidance and support to this unsuspecting renegade. She takes Pepper on a trip to a small town off the coast of Georgia, surmising that a powerful man is determined to make claims on Pepper's child.  At the same time, Annabelle comes face to face with her own secrets from long ago. Secrets like a clandestine affair with a Jewish lover, and a royal title bestowed upon her from marriage to a high-ranking German officer. Two incredibly strong women, years apart in age, yet with so much in common. Determined to survive.

If you choose to explore the history of the Schuyler sisters, check out Tiny Little Thing and The Secret Life of Violet Grant.  Also recommended is  A Hundred Summers reviewed on this blog in September 2013; it's another engaging historical romance with characters that appear in the author's other novels.

Thoroughly entertaining, the saga of Pepper Schuyler and Annabelle Dommerich is sure to appeal to the hopeless romantic in all of us.

A Hundred Summers

A Hundred Summers by Beatriz Williams

It's official.  Autumn has arrived.  Hold on to those last, lazy summer days with this delicious beach read.....

As children, Lily Dane and Budgie Byrne enjoyed endless vacation days at their family homes on the beaches of  Seaview, Rhode Island.  Now they are both students at Smith College.  Budgie with her shiny dark curls, silver grey eyes and irresistible charm; Lily, meeker,  polished,  blessed  with a subtle beauty.  So different, yet what a strong friendship they share.  A road trip to a Dartmouth football game in 1931 will change their lives forever.  Budgie's boyfriend, Graham, introduces them to quarterback Nick Greenwald, and he is immediately attracted to Lily.  A romance ensues in the months ahead, marred by the fact that Nick is Jewish and her family's refusal to accept him. 

It is now seven years later.  Lily returns to Seaview.  Her constant companion is her "sister" Kiki, a precocious six-year-old child and the source of gossip to all the inhabitants of Seaview.  Lily's mother, cold and distant, seems perfectly content to have Lily raise the child.  Two other people return to Seaview this fateful summer. Mr. and Mrs. Nick Greenwald.  Yes, Budgie has recently married Nick, Lily's one true love. So begins the intricately woven story of why.  The chapters alternate between the early 1930's and 1938. The reader will marvel at hidden family secrets, the heartache of lost love, jealousy, insecurities, and the true meaning of friendship.

The Great New England Hurricane of 1938 plays heavily in the final chapters.  Not only does the author explicitly describe the destruction of the area, she also sets the scene for the final moments in complicated lives.

No murder or mayhem in this one-just a touching story of lost love and redemption.

Keep summer alive a moment longer....