An
aristocratic young woman leaves the sheltered world of London to find adventure,
passion, and independence in 1920s Paris in this mesmerizing story from
the USA Today and internationally bestselling author of Somewhere
in France and After the War is Over.
Spring,
1924
Recovering
from a broken wartime engagement and a serious illness that left her near death,
Lady Helena Montagu-Douglas-Parr vows that for once she will live life on her
own terms. Breaking free from the stifling social constraints of the
aristocratic society in which she was raised, she travels to France to stay with
her free spirited aunt. For one year, she will simply be Miss Parr. She will
explore the picturesque streets of Paris, meet people who know nothing of her
past—and pursue her dream of becoming an artist.
A
few years after the Great War’s end, the City of Light is a bohemian paradise
teeming with actors, painters, writers, and a lively coterie of American
expatriates who welcome Helena into their romantic and exciting circle. Among
them is Sam Howard, an irascible and infuriatingly honest correspondent for
theChicago Tribune. Dangerously attractive and deeply scarred by the
horror and carnage of the war, Sam is unlike any man she has ever encountered.
He calls her Ellie, sees her as no one has before, and offers her a glimpse of a
future that is both irresistible and impossible.
As
Paris rises phoenix-like from the ashes of the Great War, so too does Helena.
Though she’s shed her old self, she’s still uncertain of what she will become
and where she belongs. But is she strong enough to completely let go of the past
and follow her heart, no matter where it leads her?
Artfully
capturing the Lost Generation and their enchanting city, Moonlight Over
Paris is the spellbinding story of one young woman’s journey to find
herself, and claim the life—and love—she truly wants.
My Review Every now and then I come across a book I don't want to end because I enjoy living in the world of the book so much. Moonlight Over Paris is one of those books.
Moonlight Over Paris is a delight for fans of historical fiction. Jennifer Robson has a gift for making historical details fascinating. You will meet Gerald and Sara Murphy in this book, along with other members of the Lost Generation in Paris. You will ride on an old fashioned sleeper train - evocatively called "the train bleu." You will spend time living in Paris in the 1920's.As a Francophile, Moonlight in Paris is fascinating.
Helena is one of my favorite protagonists in recent reads. She starts the book unsure of herself and her place in the world, but during her trip to Paris, her study of art, and her connection with Sam Howard, she becomes more self assured and grows. The book begins with a quote from Paul Valery: "The best way to make your dreams come true is to wake up." This is a perfect summary of Helena's time in Paris.
I cannot recommend this book highly enough for fans of historical fiction. I have already purchased another Jennifer Robson novel, and am sure I will reread Moonlight in Paris again at some point. I look forward to visiting this book world again.
Author Bio
Jennifer
Robson is the USA Today and #1 Toronto Globe &
Mail bestselling author of Somewhere in France. She holds a
doctorate in British economic and social history from Saint Antony’s College,
University of Oxford, where she was a Commonwealth Scholar and an SSHRC Doctoral
Fellow. She lives in Toronto, Canada, with her husband and young children.
Find
out more about Jennifer at her website, and connect with her on Facebook and Twitter.
I received a copy of this book from TLC Book Tours in exchange for an honest review.
February 2 is Groundhog Day. This holiday has been celebrated since 1887. According to folklore, on this date if it is cloudy, a groundhog will emerge from his burrow and there will be an early spring. If it is sunny, the groundhog will go back into the burrow, and there will be six more weeks of winter weather. The most famous groundhog in the United States is Punxsutawney Phil in Punxsutawney, Pennsylvania. Phil was named after King Philip. In Georgia, we have General Beau Lee in Stone Mountain.
The first documented reference to Groundhog Day in the United States is by shopkeeper James Morris in 1841: "Last Tuesday, the 2nd, was Candlemas day, the day on which, according to the
Germans, the Groundhog peeps out of his winter quarters and if he sees his
shadow he pops back for another six weeks nap, but if the day be cloudy he
remains out, as the weather is to be moderate." Groundhogs are the largest animal in the squirrel family. They typically are about 20" long, and weigh 12 to 15 pounds. Groundhogs are also known as woodchucks or whistle pigs. The name "whistle pig" comes from their whistling behavior. They whistle when they are alarmed, or when they are courting in spring. Groundhogs are primarily herbivores, preferring greens, fruits, and vegetables. They do not drink much water. They put on weight before hibernating. They are diurnal animals - active during the day. Most Groundhog Day organizers claim an accuracy rate of 75% - 95%, although meteorologists insist that this rate is much lower (30% - 40%).
There was a 1993 comedy movie called Groundhog Day about a weatherman (Bill Murray) who gets caught in a time loop while covering Groundhog Day festivities. Here is a video of a tame groundhog named Garfield nibbling on some food: Is there a famous groundhog from your area? Did he see his shadow today? I'd love to hear from you in the comments, below.
Synopsis The food truck craze has reached the charming coastal town of South
Cove, California, but before Jill Gardner—owner of Coffee, Books, and More—can
sample the eats, she has to shift gears and put the brakes on a killer . .
. Now that Kacey Austin has got her new gluten-free dessert truck up and
running, there’s no curbing her enthusiasm—not even when someone vandalizes the
vehicle and steals her recipes. But when Kacey turns up dead on the beach and
Jill’s best friend Sadie becomes the prime suspect, Jill needs to step on it to
serve the real killer some just desserts.
I loved this song from first listen. It came out during my college years, and I bought the 45. (I'm sure I stll have it here!) I really like the nostalgic, 1960's sound of this 1980's song. "They Don't Know" was written and recorded in 1979 by Kirsty MacColl. In 1983, Tracey Ullman recorded a cover of the song that became very popular in the U.K., and later in the U.S. as well. (It reached #8 on the Billboard chart.) The video is lots of fun, with bowling, home movies, some 1970's disco dancing, and a cameo by Paul McCartney. Later it was a theme song for Tracey Ullman's comedy show, Tracey Takes On. This song always makes me happy, and I hope you enjoy it too. I'd love to hear from you in the comments, below.
