Beatrice Colin (1963–2019)

I love the time (1912) and place of this novel (Scotland). I was most intrigued with the background and interests of the characters. Cicely and her daughter, Kitty, travel to Scotland from their home in India with the intent to claim their (her husband's) inheritance. Her husband (George) is a rare plant collector who explores the globe seeking to discover new plant species. Unfortunately he has raked up extensive bills without generating income and their family is in dire need of funds. Malcolm and Antonia (George's sister) live in a rather run-down estate, Balmarra, located in Scotland and she also has a keen interest in plants. On the estate is an exquisite glass house with decorative ironwork which contains precious plants like palms, orchids, orange trees and roses. When Cicely and Kitty unexpectedly show up on Antonia's doorstep, Antonia is pleasantly surprised while Malcolm is suspicious. Cicely expects her trip there to obtain the inheritance will be simple and she plans to sell Balmarra providing her family with the income they need and then simply return to India. She's not terribly concerned about how this will impact Malcolm and Antonia. But things don't go as planned and her stay at Balmarra results in both adventures and misadventures.
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This book was on one of my book shelves for awhile. I randomly chose it, and I'm glad I did. I finished it in one day.

The background is Paris France 1887-1889, and the plot is intriguing. Gustave Eiffel with his engineers are building an iron structure. It towers higher and higher, and looks like a magical structure of light, a building without any outer structure. It causes some to marvel, and many to call it an atrocity.

Weaving historical detail with a cast of characters who depict Paris, France in the time of struggling artists in their new, brazen form titled impressionism.

Paris is a mix of the upper class who dress to impress, while severely looking down upon the poorer lot. Juxtapositioned are prostitutes, opium dens, and an aura of sexuality. By the end of the book, the reader sees Paris as a fascinating city, with a severe undercurrent of seediness.

There are street beggars, people whose lot in life was suddenly changed by the end of a job, a death of a husband, and those who simply were not born into a higher echelon and have no means of ever fitting in with the rich and powerful.

The plot twirls around true-to-life characters of Gustave Eiffel, who is the main engineer of the tower is and his co- engineer Émile Nouguier both are famous for designing the architectural structure titled the Eiffel Tower, built for the 1889 Universal Exposition in Paris, France.

Emile falls in love with Scottish born Caitriona Wallace, a woman whose life is forever changed when her husband dies. All too soon, her finances are dwindling, and thus she takes a position of chaperone to two very spoiled young adults whose uncle funded their trip to Paris with the hope his nephew would become less immature, and his niece would find a suitable wealthy man to marry.

When Cait meets Emile Nouguier, both are drawn to each other. Alas, this is a tale of a woman of a much lower social status, and a man who desperately wants to break tradition and claim her as his wife.

While overall, the plot is marvelously woven, but, there seemed to be too much frivolous information that took away from what could have been a beautiful masterpiece.

Recommended.

3.5 Stars… (mehr)

This is a great debut novel about a young orphaned girl from her birth in 1900 Berlin to to live in an orphanage, as a maid, a runaway, her friendships, loves and accidental fall into acting and becoming a german movie star. Its a very interesting account, perhaps certain things seem a bit predictable, but I really enjoyed reading it. I liked Lilly, also known as Tiny Lil, Dora, Lillishuka, Lidi and her full name Lilly Nelly Aphrodite. She was a strong character, brave and determined. I will check out what else this author has to offer in the future.… (mehr)

I have received this e-ARC from Netgalley in return for my honest review.

A tender love story yet with expected unexpected ending. Though slow at some point with a little extra unnecessary fillers, Beatrice does writes well with straightforward prose. I loved that the love story revolves around the amazing Eiffel Tower. A simple, historical romance on the go for me.

You can read my full review here:
rel="nofollow" target="_top">http://www.sholee.net/2016/11/mpov-to-capture-what-we-cannot-keep-e.html… (mehr)