Sarah lives in Boston. Her parents have recently died and her husband - the man she thought was her soul mate - has left her for another woman. While cleaning out her parents house she finds a small green chest concealed at the back of her father’s wardrobe. When she opened the chest, there was only one thing inside: a letter, postmarked 1895, Paris. Determined to find out more about the letter and a distant aunt who committed suicide in Paris, she goes to Paris and rents the apartment that originally belonged to Isbelle deFlorian. The more information she uncovers, the more sure she is that her aunt Louisa was murdered and didn't kill herself. She also finds out that Louisa's husband had a great friendship with the courtesan from book one. Sarah and Louisa were both interesting characters and both were looking for love and understanding in their lives. As with the other two books, this one had mystery, romance and lots of historical detail. ( )

The moment this book was recommended to me I was intrigued.
The name and the cover caused me to click on the link and when I read the synopsis and review I had to read it.
This a dualistic story taking the reader from the past to the present world in very successful chapters. Though two stories it had one objective - to find your own two feet in a world that still dictates us. In Louisa's time, it was even worse. Back in 1895, the world for an openminded woman was harsher, more strict, and when you are in a dukedom you had to learn quickly where your place was. Women back then had no rights and with the women's rights movement still in its diapers, every woman who made a choice to follow knew they would be ostracized.
In the present time, we meet Sarah, an ancestor of Louisa during a time of her life where she had to find herself in the maelstrom of life after a divorce.
The similarities are real. Both the women's confusion and fight for control real.
Both women came to Paris for the answers which they received. But for the one, it ended badly while for the other it meant a new beginning.
It is a fast-paced book cloaked in mystery, romance and truth.
It is definitely a must-read for all women liking this genre.
The only reason it is not 5 stars is all the and's in the book.
Otherwise, the flow and ease with which the author has written draw you into the lives of the two main characters and really help you to appreciate what you have. ( )

I did enjoy this historical romance. Sarah West, following her divorce and the death of her parents, is exploring her ancestors, in particular Louisa, following a letter found among her father's papers. Louisa is supposed to have committed suicide in 1895 by jumping off a balcony in Paris. She was the wife of Henry Duval, son of wealthy landed gentry in England and heir to a title. Louisa had aspirations to work with improving the lot of women and associated herself with Mrs. Pankhurst, something not looked on with favour among the English aristocracy, including the Duval family. Louisa's marriage is not a happy one as Henry was a close friend of French courtesan Marthe de Florian, and led the life of a rake in Paris. The letter Sarah finds was written to Henry by Marthe following Louisa's death.
Determined to follow it up, Sarah goes to Paris and shares Marthe's former apartment with artist Laurent. Her investigations take her to England where she learns what happened to Louisa's daughter and how the Duval family rewrote its own history. Throughout her search, Sarah's relationship with Laurent grows.
I found the story of Louisa's involvement in the enfranchisement of women a little difficult to credit as it was described, and for a supposedly smart woman she completely misjudged Henry and refused to listen to her own concerns.
But for the other matter, which has cropped up in one or two books I have read recently, I blame on Fifty Shades of Grey. Women biting their lip! Sarah did this on a number of occasions and it always grabbed me as ridiculous. If you don't believe me, try it in front of a mirror. It looks silly and juvenile, and sometimes downright ugly. I hope this trend stops very soon.

( )