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Secrets of Paris Series #3
From a Paris Balcony
Heartbroken and alone, Boston art curator Sarah West is grieving the recent deaths of her parents and the end of her marriage. Ultrasensible by nature, she’s determined to stay the course to get her life back on track. But fate has something else in mind. While cleaning out her father’s closet, she finds a letter from the famous Parisian courtesan Marthe de Florian, dated 1895. The subject? Sarah’s great-great-aunt Louisa’s death. Legend has it Louisa committed suicide…but this letter implies there’s more to that story. Determined to learn the truth, Sarah, against her nature, impulsively flies to Paris. There she’s drawn into the world of her flatmate, the brilliant artist Laurent Chartier. As she delves deep into the glittering Belle Époque to unravel the mystery, Sarah finds that her aunt’s story may offer her exactly what she needs to open up to love again. Following Sarah in the present day and Louisa in the 1890s, this moving novel spans more than a century to tell the stories of two remarkable women.
298 pages, Kindle Edition
First published October 11, 2016
3659 people are currently reading
3764 people want to read
About the author
Ella Carey
26 books685 followersElla Carey is the USA Today and Amazon charts bestselling author of Secrets of Paris series, as well as the standalone kindle bestsellers, Secret Shores, The Things We Don’t Say and Beyond the Horizon, set around the brave, unsung Women’s Airforce Pilots of World War Two.
A New York Secret is the first in Ella's new Daughters of New York series and published on March 12th, 2021. Laced with all the glamour of New York, the book is set in an exquisite Uptown restaurant where Lily Rose is training to become head chef in the 1940's. Ella traveled to New York to research the book, which involved going incognito on foodie tours, visiting some of New York's most famous restaurants, and exploring the atmospheric streets of Greenwich Village. The whole experience resulted in her developing a serious addiction to cannoli, a passion for The Strand Bookstore, a love for The Village, along with six new novels set in New York, all to be published in the coming years.
The second book in the series, The Lost Girl of Berlin, released on July 12th, 2021, and is set in the aftermath of the Second World War amongst the ruins of Berlin and then, in fabulous post war New York, and the third book in the series is The Girl from Paris, telling the story of Vianne Mercier, a Parisian fashion designer who travels to New York, and for whom beautiful couture is a fairytale.
Ella was born in Adelaide, Australia, and was educated at the University of Adelaide, completing a music degree in classical piano at the Elder Conservatorium, and an arts degree with a double major in History and English Literature.
Ella lives in Melbourne, Australia with her family. Ella's house is run by one very elderly and adored Italian Greyhound, and one cute puppy called Sassy who thinks she is the boss! And Ella's garden is managed by four chickens, Miss Pertelote, Annie, Harriet and Fox's Dinner.
Ella has recently signed a nine-book deal with Hachette UK imprint Bookouture. Bookouture have published all of Ella’s previous books, which have reached over one million readers in English alone, and are also publishing Ella's New York series for publication in 2021, 2022 and 2023. This sweeping historical series of six books, featuring unforgettable characters, will tell the stories of dazzling hopes and difficult dreams in America, before, during and after the Second World War.
Ella's New York series and her Paris Secrets Series have been sold for translation into many countries into over twenty languages.
When she’s not writing, Ella enjoys studying Italian, walking along the beach, travelling when she can, and spending time with her family and friends. She also loves to chat with her readers, and would be delighted for you to join her lovely group of long time readers on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/ellacareyaut..., and on her website at www.ellacarey.com, where you can find more information about the background behind her books, and join her mailing list for regular updates about her upcoming novels.
A New York Secret is the first in Ella's new Daughters of New York series and published on March 12th, 2021. Laced with all the glamour of New York, the book is set in an exquisite Uptown restaurant where Lily Rose is training to become head chef in the 1940's. Ella traveled to New York to research the book, which involved going incognito on foodie tours, visiting some of New York's most famous restaurants, and exploring the atmospheric streets of Greenwich Village. The whole experience resulted in her developing a serious addiction to cannoli, a passion for The Strand Bookstore, a love for The Village, along with six new novels set in New York, all to be published in the coming years.
The second book in the series, The Lost Girl of Berlin, released on July 12th, 2021, and is set in the aftermath of the Second World War amongst the ruins of Berlin and then, in fabulous post war New York, and the third book in the series is The Girl from Paris, telling the story of Vianne Mercier, a Parisian fashion designer who travels to New York, and for whom beautiful couture is a fairytale.
Ella was born in Adelaide, Australia, and was educated at the University of Adelaide, completing a music degree in classical piano at the Elder Conservatorium, and an arts degree with a double major in History and English Literature.
Ella lives in Melbourne, Australia with her family. Ella's house is run by one very elderly and adored Italian Greyhound, and one cute puppy called Sassy who thinks she is the boss! And Ella's garden is managed by four chickens, Miss Pertelote, Annie, Harriet and Fox's Dinner.
Ella has recently signed a nine-book deal with Hachette UK imprint Bookouture. Bookouture have published all of Ella’s previous books, which have reached over one million readers in English alone, and are also publishing Ella's New York series for publication in 2021, 2022 and 2023. This sweeping historical series of six books, featuring unforgettable characters, will tell the stories of dazzling hopes and difficult dreams in America, before, during and after the Second World War.
Ella's New York series and her Paris Secrets Series have been sold for translation into many countries into over twenty languages.
When she’s not writing, Ella enjoys studying Italian, walking along the beach, travelling when she can, and spending time with her family and friends. She also loves to chat with her readers, and would be delighted for you to join her lovely group of long time readers on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/ellacareyaut..., and on her website at www.ellacarey.com, where you can find more information about the background behind her books, and join her mailing list for regular updates about her upcoming novels.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 510 reviews
March 28, 2023
More of a love story than historical fiction, it tells the story of Sarah investigating an ancestor's mysterious suicide. Plot line jumps in time, which was confusing in the audio version. Climax was not surprising AT ALL.
October 1, 2016
Two stories. Present day and the past. Sarah West has lost her parents and her marriage is over when she finds a letter among her father’s things from the Paris courtesan Marthe De Florian. Now she decides on a whim that she will go to Paris and investigate this letter but she can only find lodging co-habitating with an eccentric artist. This may be her last chance to chance her future and find love again. Great read. I would like to thank the publisher and Net Galley for the chance to read this ARC.
October 19, 2016
*4.5 stars
This is another story about the abandoned apartment of Marthe de Florain, but unlike another book I read, this one was well-written and captivating. The story weaves back and forth between past and present. I love this when its done well. After Sarah loses both her parents and gets a divorce, she decides to go to Paris on a whim. While there she rents the apartment that the famous courtesan, Marthe de Florian, had lived in. While Marthe plays a small part in the story, she isn't the main focus. Sarah's ancestor, Louisa is the main storyline which we follow. The reason Sarah goes to Paris is that she wants to solve the mystery of Louisa's "suicide" back in the late 1800's. I really enjoyed Sarah's journey. She meets a Parisian, Laurent, who becomes her supporter on her quest. The past is told from Louisa's pov. She's somewhat of an anomaly for that time, with her being a women's rights activist. There's a lot that goes on between her husband and his life that she didn't know when she got married. Which will lead to a life she didn't predict. This will eventually lead Sarah to the answers she seeks. I really did enjoy this novel. I thought Ella Carey wrote a charming story and she'll be another author that I'll read her earlier books.
**Thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
This is another story about the abandoned apartment of Marthe de Florain, but unlike another book I read, this one was well-written and captivating. The story weaves back and forth between past and present. I love this when its done well. After Sarah loses both her parents and gets a divorce, she decides to go to Paris on a whim. While there she rents the apartment that the famous courtesan, Marthe de Florian, had lived in. While Marthe plays a small part in the story, she isn't the main focus. Sarah's ancestor, Louisa is the main storyline which we follow. The reason Sarah goes to Paris is that she wants to solve the mystery of Louisa's "suicide" back in the late 1800's. I really enjoyed Sarah's journey. She meets a Parisian, Laurent, who becomes her supporter on her quest. The past is told from Louisa's pov. She's somewhat of an anomaly for that time, with her being a women's rights activist. There's a lot that goes on between her husband and his life that she didn't know when she got married. Which will lead to a life she didn't predict. This will eventually lead Sarah to the answers she seeks. I really did enjoy this novel. I thought Ella Carey wrote a charming story and she'll be another author that I'll read her earlier books.
**Thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.
October 23, 2016
4.5 stars...
This is the 3rd book by Ella Carey featuring the "forgotten" Paris apartment. I've read and enjoyed all 3! This one, From a Paris Balcony, focuses on the "other side" of demimondaine world--that of a patron's wife. We get to experience the thoughts, feelings and challenges of marriage with a man caught up in the Paris underbelly. As her other books, there is a past and present storyline that converge. Sarah finds out about her ancestor Louisa quite by accident and while at loose ends in her own personal life, decides to journey to Paris for a sabbatical. She seeks through all sources she can find to help her discover anything she can about Louisa's life and how it relates to the life of Marthe de Florian.
Ella Carey's writing never fails to entrance and entertain me. I love the characters and worlds she creates. Recommended!
**Many thanks to NetGalley and Lake Union Publishers for a pre-release e-galley for review purposes!**
This is the 3rd book by Ella Carey featuring the "forgotten" Paris apartment. I've read and enjoyed all 3! This one, From a Paris Balcony, focuses on the "other side" of demimondaine world--that of a patron's wife. We get to experience the thoughts, feelings and challenges of marriage with a man caught up in the Paris underbelly. As her other books, there is a past and present storyline that converge. Sarah finds out about her ancestor Louisa quite by accident and while at loose ends in her own personal life, decides to journey to Paris for a sabbatical. She seeks through all sources she can find to help her discover anything she can about Louisa's life and how it relates to the life of Marthe de Florian.
Ella Carey's writing never fails to entrance and entertain me. I love the characters and worlds she creates. Recommended!
**Many thanks to NetGalley and Lake Union Publishers for a pre-release e-galley for review purposes!**
February 28, 2018
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.
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.
October 5, 2016
Thank you to Netgalley, Lake Union Publishing and Ella Carey for making an e-ARC of From a Paris Balcony available in exchange for an honest review.
From a Paris Balcony is a pleasant story set in modern and late nineteenth century Paris. Sarah West, the modern protagonist, is all alone and a bit lost. Her marriage to her unfaithful husband is over. Both her parents have passed away within months of each other and she has no other family. As she is sorting through her father’s belongings, she finds an old letter that leaves her surprised and fascinated. The letter is written by a woman named Marthe de Florian, who was a Parisian courtesan during the Belle Époque, and it concerns the death of Sarah’s great, great aunt Louisa. Louisa, considered a black sheep to her family, committed suicide by jumping off a balcony, or so the story goes. The letter, however, makes Sarah question this version of events. The involvement of Marthe de Florian is of great interest to Sarah as well. In 2010 (a true event), the courtesan’s Paris apartment was discovered untouched for several decades and full of Marthe’s personal possessions. Sarah, a level-headed, non risk-taker cannot help but be drawn in by the letter and by Marthe’s connection to Louisa and possibly her death. When she discovers the new owner of the apartment is renting it out, Sarah decides to go to Paris and see if she can find out the truth surrounding Louisa’s death.
She makes some unusual arrangements with the owner: she will share Marthe’s apartment with the present renter, Laurent, a successful French artist. He is using Marthe’s apartment and her belongings as the setting for his latest work, a series of portraits inspired by Giovanni Boldini, who had used this very apartment to paint decades earlier. His portrait of Marthe was among the many items found when the apartment was discovered in 2010. Laurent proves to be a friendly roommate and assists Sarah in delving into the past and maybe something more...
The novel moves back and forth between Sarah investigating the mystery of Louisa’s past and Louisa’s story as it happened in the 1890s. Louisa is unusual for her time in that she really is not interested in getting married and is more concerned with women’s rights. Louisa’s story starts with her in England where she is eventually charmed by Henry Duval, a young viscount with modern ideas. She rushes into marriage with him, despite warnings from his younger brother, Charles. Henry spends most of his time in Paris which is where Louisa realizes what kind of man she has married.
I found that I never fully connected with Louisa and her plight. Her devotion to women’s rights doesn’t always feel fleshed out and her sudden marriage to Henry seems odd considering her feelings on marriage. Many of the chapters that revolve around her seem more of a summary at times than an exploration of her life. I did enjoy the descriptions of 1890s’ Paris but not just did not warm to most of the characters.
Sarah, on the other hand, is a more relatable character as she searches for the truth and gets closer to Laurent. Having lost everyone in her life, her need for a cause of sorts is more engaging than Louisa’s. Her time in Paris and with Laurent is a pleasure to read and a bit fun at times. I did enjoy Laurent’s character as well. He is charming and likeable.
I may have enjoyed From a Paris Balcony more if I had not recently read a book that was beautifully written with a similar feel: The Light of Paris by Eleanor Brown. In that book, the modern character does not travel to Paris in search of truth but is reading a diary written by her grandmother while in Jazz Age Paris. That book comes alive with its characters and lovely descriptions, especially in the past, which is what I feel From a Paris Balcony does not quite accomplish.
I did like the book but always felt it was a bit brief and did not pull me into the story fully. That said, Carey does have a nice writing style and I would read her again.
February 16, 2018
An unexpected delight
Fully realized characters in an engrossing tale of an intriguing time in Paris and England. Now all of Ella Carey's books are on my Kindle!
Fully realized characters in an engrossing tale of an intriguing time in Paris and England. Now all of Ella Carey's books are on my Kindle!
November 24, 2020
A magnificent read.
Wow, this book is absolutely amazing, it had me hooked from beginning to end.
Sarah's parents have passed away, she is divorced, then she finds an old letter which her father had hidden. This leads to a visit to Paris where she attempts to unravel the past.
A brilliantly written and researched dual timeline set in the late 19th century and present day. The reader is taken along on an incredible journey from Boston, to Paris and England.
One of the best dual timelines I have read for ages, and I can't recommend highly enough.
Wow, this book is absolutely amazing, it had me hooked from beginning to end.
Sarah's parents have passed away, she is divorced, then she finds an old letter which her father had hidden. This leads to a visit to Paris where she attempts to unravel the past.
A brilliantly written and researched dual timeline set in the late 19th century and present day. The reader is taken along on an incredible journey from Boston, to Paris and England.
One of the best dual timelines I have read for ages, and I can't recommend highly enough.
January 26, 2024
I’ve always been drawn to books that balance a modern storyline with one from the past that eventually collide. This is one of those books.
Charming at times, but unfortunately the modern storyline is clunky, convoluted and a touch obvious. However, the strength of the story lies in the 1895 Belle Epoche story.
(Reviewed 5/13/18)
Charming at times, but unfortunately the modern storyline is clunky, convoluted and a touch obvious. However, the strength of the story lies in the 1895 Belle Epoche story.
(Reviewed 5/13/18)
February 25, 2025
This was fun! I bought this book a while ago and I’m so glad I finally got to it.
Overall, I loved the Paris setting, it was great at transporting the reader there. I also liked the dual timelines. It kept the reader engaged and added a lot to the plot. However, the story itself moved pretty slow for me and I found the ending to be kind of predictable.
A high 3 stars and would recommend to historical fiction lovers.🇫🇷😘
Overall, I loved the Paris setting, it was great at transporting the reader there. I also liked the dual timelines. It kept the reader engaged and added a lot to the plot. However, the story itself moved pretty slow for me and I found the ending to be kind of predictable.
A high 3 stars and would recommend to historical fiction lovers.🇫🇷😘
July 23, 2021
This book shows us that everything is in our hands but from the other side there is a destiny. You can plan tomorrow but you never know what brings you tomorrow. Life is an interesting mixture of our actions and choices you do and fatalism(life is changing every next moment of our life). In this book it is brilliantly shown! Also the plot brings this idea in an interesting way. I like this book so much. It is mixture of adventure and philosophy inside.
“We all need to work out who we are. But at the same time, we are all labeled from birth.”
And never enough reading !
“We all need to work out who we are. But at the same time, we are all labeled from birth.”
And never enough reading !
August 25, 2016
After reading the description of this book. I was intrigued, i just had to find out what happened to Louisa.
The story alternates between the present and the past, so we can see events from the point of view of Sarah and Louisa. Sarah is feeling lost in life, having recently lost both her parents and divorcing her husband. She just doesnt know what to do with herself.
While going through her parents belongings, she comes across a letter from Marthe de Florian, a famous Parisian courtesan. The letter mentions the death of her great great aunt Louisa. Who supposedly died by commiting suicide. It also implies it wasnt suicide. Feeling the need for a connection with her family. Sarah flies off to Paris, determined to find out what really happened.
Staying in Marthe's apartment, Sarah hopes to find some letters from Louisa or Henry. Unfortunately the apartment is already occupied by Laurant a Parisian artist. Desperate to escape her life, Sarah agrees to share the apartment.
I really felt for Louisa, she wasnt a typical woman for her time period. Marrying and giving birth didnt appeal to her. She was all for womens rights, and idolised Emmeline Pankhurst. Something her mother abhorred.
When she meets Henry she thinks he is different from other men. And when he proposes she accepts. Believing her husbands station in life will help her spread the word about womens rights.
Instead she gets a disinterested husband who is only interested in his needs
Luckily Louisa has her brother in law who actually thinks her views are important. To be trapped in a loveless marriage must be awful. And in those days divorce wasnt the done thing.
Sarah doesnt have much luck in finding anything about her ancestor. Only one other letter is found, from Henry to Marthe. On the advice of Laurent she goes to England , to see if the Duvals will tell her anything else.
At first they are reluctant to help Sarah .Eventually Jeremy admits that the part of the house Louisa Henry and Charlie lived in, had been shut up and left how it was. Here Sarah finds one more letter between Henry and Marthe. Nothing to tell her about Louisa.
As she is about to leave the house she asks a member of staff if he knew anything.
Telling Sarah to go to his house away from prying eyes. He finally reveals all.
I wont say anymore, i hope i have peaked your interest into picking up a copy.
The story alternates between the present and the past, so we can see events from the point of view of Sarah and Louisa. Sarah is feeling lost in life, having recently lost both her parents and divorcing her husband. She just doesnt know what to do with herself.
While going through her parents belongings, she comes across a letter from Marthe de Florian, a famous Parisian courtesan. The letter mentions the death of her great great aunt Louisa. Who supposedly died by commiting suicide. It also implies it wasnt suicide. Feeling the need for a connection with her family. Sarah flies off to Paris, determined to find out what really happened.
Staying in Marthe's apartment, Sarah hopes to find some letters from Louisa or Henry. Unfortunately the apartment is already occupied by Laurant a Parisian artist. Desperate to escape her life, Sarah agrees to share the apartment.
I really felt for Louisa, she wasnt a typical woman for her time period. Marrying and giving birth didnt appeal to her. She was all for womens rights, and idolised Emmeline Pankhurst. Something her mother abhorred.
When she meets Henry she thinks he is different from other men. And when he proposes she accepts. Believing her husbands station in life will help her spread the word about womens rights.
Instead she gets a disinterested husband who is only interested in his needs
Luckily Louisa has her brother in law who actually thinks her views are important. To be trapped in a loveless marriage must be awful. And in those days divorce wasnt the done thing.
Sarah doesnt have much luck in finding anything about her ancestor. Only one other letter is found, from Henry to Marthe. On the advice of Laurent she goes to England , to see if the Duvals will tell her anything else.
At first they are reluctant to help Sarah .Eventually Jeremy admits that the part of the house Louisa Henry and Charlie lived in, had been shut up and left how it was. Here Sarah finds one more letter between Henry and Marthe. Nothing to tell her about Louisa.
As she is about to leave the house she asks a member of staff if he knew anything.
Telling Sarah to go to his house away from prying eyes. He finally reveals all.
I wont say anymore, i hope i have peaked your interest into picking up a copy.
January 13, 2020
Sarah comes from a prestigious Boston family and works at a museum as a curator. After her husband Stephen leaves her and her parents pass away, she realizes she needs a change. So she decides to go to Paris (as you do) and find out more about her great-great-aunt Louisa West, who tragically committed suicide from a Paris balcony. Louisa was married to Henry Duval, the heir to the duke and Ashworth, a grand palace in England. And Henry somehow had a connection to Marthe de Florian, one of the most famous courtesans of the Belle Epoque period.
Marthe's flat is coincidentally a rental property -- but Sarah is told she has to share the flat with the painter Laurent, who is prone to wild parties.
Will Sarah ever find out what happened to her great-great-aunt, Louisa? And will she ever find love again?
This book... meh. I felt like it was too simple... not written well. And way too many coincidences designed by the author. Sarah just happens to be a curator. Sarah just happens to be able to get a sabbatical. Sarah just happens to be amazingly organized. And Sarah just happens to rent a flat with some handsome painter. (And there are more I haven't even mentioned). The way the author designed the circumstances to fit within the story was annoying -- and made the storyline seem forced, even down to the fact that Sarah had to walk through Laurent's room to get to her own. And the fact that Laurent was a famous artist -- and how many famous artists are there? Especially artists that teach Sorbonne students at the Louvre and display their works in the Centre Pompidou?
On the plus side, Paris. Who doesn't love Paris? But there was too much seedy Monmartre Paris and not enough beautiful Paris.
I was also annoyed how the book went back and forth (and forth and back) between Louisa in 1895 and Sarah in current day. And how the storyline with Louisa was 'forced' as well -- she just happened to be from a prestigious 'acceptable' Boston family. She just happened to attract the rakish Henry. And she just happened to have feelings for his brother, Charlie. So much wealth for one story :)
And then there was so much written about Sarah's 'appalling' appearance in her pjs. Or that her black bob was tousled. Or that her little black dress was too strappy. Or whatever. Oy!
Marthe's flat is coincidentally a rental property -- but Sarah is told she has to share the flat with the painter Laurent, who is prone to wild parties.
Will Sarah ever find out what happened to her great-great-aunt, Louisa? And will she ever find love again?
This book... meh. I felt like it was too simple... not written well. And way too many coincidences designed by the author. Sarah just happens to be a curator. Sarah just happens to be able to get a sabbatical. Sarah just happens to be amazingly organized. And Sarah just happens to rent a flat with some handsome painter. (And there are more I haven't even mentioned). The way the author designed the circumstances to fit within the story was annoying -- and made the storyline seem forced, even down to the fact that Sarah had to walk through Laurent's room to get to her own. And the fact that Laurent was a famous artist -- and how many famous artists are there? Especially artists that teach Sorbonne students at the Louvre and display their works in the Centre Pompidou?
On the plus side, Paris. Who doesn't love Paris? But there was too much seedy Monmartre Paris and not enough beautiful Paris.
I was also annoyed how the book went back and forth (and forth and back) between Louisa in 1895 and Sarah in current day. And how the storyline with Louisa was 'forced' as well -- she just happened to be from a prestigious 'acceptable' Boston family. She just happened to attract the rakish Henry. And she just happened to have feelings for his brother, Charlie. So much wealth for one story :)
And then there was so much written about Sarah's 'appalling' appearance in her pjs. Or that her black bob was tousled. Or that her little black dress was too strappy. Or whatever. Oy!
October 11, 2016
MS Carey has done it again taken me on a journey back in time with heartfelt emotion, romance and drama I felt like I was back in these times, times of courtesans wild living before wars came and changed the world where people had to be what was expected of them and there were the few that could let themselves be who they wanted to for a short time and struggling females could become famous.
Sarah West is struggling to get her life back on track after the death of her parents and the breakdown of her marriage but a letter found among her father's possessions from the famous Parisian Courtesan Marthe de Florian dated 1895 is about to change her life send her to Paris to investigate a long lost relative Louisa West and actually stay in the Paris apartment that belonged to Marthe herself and to meet the artist Laurent Chartier and then delve back in time to the age of the Belle Epoque and the mystery surrounding her great great aunt how did she die?
This is a fabulously written story that delves back in time and brings Sarah's life full circle there is such a blossoming romance between Laurent and Sarah and the settings both in the 1890's and the present are amazing I honestly felt that MS Carey was transporting me to these places. So much history and romance the characters come to life and of course we got to meet up with Cat and Loic from The Paris Time Capsule and to see how woman struggled back then and the courage that Louisa West showed during her life. I hope I have done justice with this review truly I loved this one from page one and can't recommend it enough do yourself a favour and spend a few hours engrossed in this book. Thank you MS Carey for another keeper.
Sarah West is struggling to get her life back on track after the death of her parents and the breakdown of her marriage but a letter found among her father's possessions from the famous Parisian Courtesan Marthe de Florian dated 1895 is about to change her life send her to Paris to investigate a long lost relative Louisa West and actually stay in the Paris apartment that belonged to Marthe herself and to meet the artist Laurent Chartier and then delve back in time to the age of the Belle Epoque and the mystery surrounding her great great aunt how did she die?
This is a fabulously written story that delves back in time and brings Sarah's life full circle there is such a blossoming romance between Laurent and Sarah and the settings both in the 1890's and the present are amazing I honestly felt that MS Carey was transporting me to these places. So much history and romance the characters come to life and of course we got to meet up with Cat and Loic from The Paris Time Capsule and to see how woman struggled back then and the courage that Louisa West showed during her life. I hope I have done justice with this review truly I loved this one from page one and can't recommend it enough do yourself a favour and spend a few hours engrossed in this book. Thank you MS Carey for another keeper.
October 8, 2016
Sarah is a practical, down to earth art curator. The death of her parents and the breakdown of her marriage dealt her a double whammy. Finding a letter in a closet of her late father's addressed by a famous courtesan to her great great grand father and the contents of the letter compels Sarah to set out on an adventure with very surprising results.
The story is romantic and far fetched, but it is set in beautiful surroundings. Told in two life times and hence two life lines it compares and contrasts the present with the past. Both have rich histories and combined with the setting of Paris and England they present a story that is extremely entertaining.
Highlighting the plight of women in 19th century Europe where being an aristocrat or rich did not help if you were a woman fighting for your rights to not just love but even to live. Husbands were able to do what they wished and despite being a woman of means, Louisa in our story had very little say in her life. First governed by the wishes of her brother, mother and society and then dictated by her husband she was doomed to a life of unhappiness. Sarah brought it to light and sought closure for her family by highlighting the truth of Louisa's apparent suicide. It was of no avail but it helped Sarah in her quest for the truth.
Idyllic in its content and very pleasant reading.
The story is romantic and far fetched, but it is set in beautiful surroundings. Told in two life times and hence two life lines it compares and contrasts the present with the past. Both have rich histories and combined with the setting of Paris and England they present a story that is extremely entertaining.
Highlighting the plight of women in 19th century Europe where being an aristocrat or rich did not help if you were a woman fighting for your rights to not just love but even to live. Husbands were able to do what they wished and despite being a woman of means, Louisa in our story had very little say in her life. First governed by the wishes of her brother, mother and society and then dictated by her husband she was doomed to a life of unhappiness. Sarah brought it to light and sought closure for her family by highlighting the truth of Louisa's apparent suicide. It was of no avail but it helped Sarah in her quest for the truth.
Idyllic in its content and very pleasant reading.
February 9, 2019
OK, where to start.
The Good
It's a good story, or might have been. I wanted to learn what happened. Some of it was predictable. I liked some of the descriptions of people and places. I suspect some readers will like the book despite its faults.
The Bad
It's not well written and seems to deteriorate as it goes along, writing-wise. It's wordy and sometimes a bit repetitious. Some parts of the story are highly unlikely but still entertaining. Some of the character actions just wouldn't happen that way in real life and bits of it are confusing, requiring re-reading.
The Ugly
The author uses the phrase "for some reason" over and over to a maddening degree. She also seems smitten with decolletage and referring to it by this name and others over and over throughout the book, to distraction. The book is told in "telling" mode, rather than a more sophisticated, elegant manner. It's sometimes way too simplistic in language. The author loves all things French, according to the notes, so has apparently written a couple other books about France or with French underpinnings. I got the impression the author hasn't been steeped in France for any long periods of time -- spent time there immersed. Sigh. There is more but this is enough. I do think the author could do much better with further study of writing.
The Good
It's a good story, or might have been. I wanted to learn what happened. Some of it was predictable. I liked some of the descriptions of people and places. I suspect some readers will like the book despite its faults.
The Bad
It's not well written and seems to deteriorate as it goes along, writing-wise. It's wordy and sometimes a bit repetitious. Some parts of the story are highly unlikely but still entertaining. Some of the character actions just wouldn't happen that way in real life and bits of it are confusing, requiring re-reading.
The Ugly
The author uses the phrase "for some reason" over and over to a maddening degree. She also seems smitten with decolletage and referring to it by this name and others over and over throughout the book, to distraction. The book is told in "telling" mode, rather than a more sophisticated, elegant manner. It's sometimes way too simplistic in language. The author loves all things French, according to the notes, so has apparently written a couple other books about France or with French underpinnings. I got the impression the author hasn't been steeped in France for any long periods of time -- spent time there immersed. Sigh. There is more but this is enough. I do think the author could do much better with further study of writing.
January 21, 2019
The only thing that made this book even slightly tolerable were the sections that took place in the 1800s, and even those got bad toward the end. The modern parts were completely predictable, poorly written, and not believable at all. Sarah & Laurent fall for each other within about 5 minutes of Sarah getting to Paris, and everything she finds in regard to her “investigation” just conveniently falls into place with no problem. It all felt really contrived, and I cringed after the 100th time the author described a voice as “intimate”. Also, how many more times could Sarah say, “It must be Paris” to describe her feelings for Laurent/behavior in Paris? So much about this book was irritating - I couldn’t wait to be done with it.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
February 11, 2018
I’m not sure how I found this book, but I’m so glad I did! It was a sweet and wonderful story about two women finding each other. Sarah, a contemporary woman, looking to find herself after familial tragedy and seeking the truth about Louisa: a woman that lived over 100 years ago.
This was a beautifully written and fun book, and the story was lighthearted and captivating.
I recommend this book to anyone wanting to be lost in a story that combines mystery, friendship, history, Paris, and even a little bit of romance.
This was a beautifully written and fun book, and the story was lighthearted and captivating.
I recommend this book to anyone wanting to be lost in a story that combines mystery, friendship, history, Paris, and even a little bit of romance.
February 13, 2018
Very good
It was a little slow at the beginning, but I kept reading. Soon, I could not put it down. The ending was a little confusing, but it didn't matter bc it all made sense after thinking about it. Very interesting historical fiction.
It was a little slow at the beginning, but I kept reading. Soon, I could not put it down. The ending was a little confusing, but it didn't matter bc it all made sense after thinking about it. Very interesting historical fiction.
November 26, 2020
This is the third novel in the Secrets of Paris series, and we are reunited with courtesan Marthe de Florian, this time during her heyday in Belle Epoque Paris. Henry Duval, eldest son of a duke and duchess and heir to the Ashworth estate, is reluctant to meet his obligations. He has no interest in working on the estate and the life he is born into means he is unable to fulfil his dream to be an actor, so he creates his own fantasy life in Paris. By choosing American bride, Louisa West, who is different to the other debutantes, he rebels in his own way. Respectfully married in the eyes of his parents, Henry wastes no time heading back to Paris and his friendship with Marthe, believing he has the power and money to have it all.
Louisa is different. Sent from Boston to England by her mother, to find a husband and settle down respectfully, all she really wants is a life with a purpose, where she can make a difference. She corresponds with Emmeline Pankhurst, tentatively setting up her own branch of the league in Ashworth and is appalled by life in Montmartre and all that fascinates her husband. Her marriage is a lonely one and she must keep what is in her heart a secret, throwing her energies into making the lives of women better, until tragedy strikes.
These troubles of the past are played out alongside the journey of Sarah West, ancestor of Louisa, who arrives in Paris with a letter, hoping to uncover the family mystery surrounding Louisa’s death. In a year when she has lost so much, Sarah finds comfort in researching the past and staying in the very apartment owned by Marthe de Florian helps in more ways than one. The more she learns about Louisa, the more the story passed down the generations seems wrong, and the more determined she is to uncover the truth. Paris may not hold all the answers, but the people she meets change her outlook on life and slowly the grief of the past year begins to recede. Her journey into the past just might affect her future.
This book has strong characters who drew me into their lives and struggles, and the more that was revealed about the past, the more I needed to know, meaning I regularly had to read ‘just one more’ chapter before closing my kindle. The descriptions and settings meant it was easy to visualise the genteel social scene of England and the contrast of the seedy Paris nightlife of the late 1800’s, whilst Sarah’s journey in modern Paris is highly charged with emotions and a feast for the senses. If you enjoy fiction that delves into the past, with intrigue, mystery and romance, I’m sure you will love this one.
All three books in the series can be read as standalone novels, but I thoroughly recommend reading them all.
Louisa is different. Sent from Boston to England by her mother, to find a husband and settle down respectfully, all she really wants is a life with a purpose, where she can make a difference. She corresponds with Emmeline Pankhurst, tentatively setting up her own branch of the league in Ashworth and is appalled by life in Montmartre and all that fascinates her husband. Her marriage is a lonely one and she must keep what is in her heart a secret, throwing her energies into making the lives of women better, until tragedy strikes.
These troubles of the past are played out alongside the journey of Sarah West, ancestor of Louisa, who arrives in Paris with a letter, hoping to uncover the family mystery surrounding Louisa’s death. In a year when she has lost so much, Sarah finds comfort in researching the past and staying in the very apartment owned by Marthe de Florian helps in more ways than one. The more she learns about Louisa, the more the story passed down the generations seems wrong, and the more determined she is to uncover the truth. Paris may not hold all the answers, but the people she meets change her outlook on life and slowly the grief of the past year begins to recede. Her journey into the past just might affect her future.
This book has strong characters who drew me into their lives and struggles, and the more that was revealed about the past, the more I needed to know, meaning I regularly had to read ‘just one more’ chapter before closing my kindle. The descriptions and settings meant it was easy to visualise the genteel social scene of England and the contrast of the seedy Paris nightlife of the late 1800’s, whilst Sarah’s journey in modern Paris is highly charged with emotions and a feast for the senses. If you enjoy fiction that delves into the past, with intrigue, mystery and romance, I’m sure you will love this one.
All three books in the series can be read as standalone novels, but I thoroughly recommend reading them all.
April 23, 2025
I picked up this book at a used bookstore simply because it had Paris in the title and was historical. I enjoyed the historical aspects, especially reference to Martha de Florian’s apartment, which I’d heard of somewhere. It seemed romantic. I’ve always thought I was born in the wrong era; that the Belle Epoch was more “me”. Alas, I’m a 20th century gal with historical romance in my blood. Ella Carey’s writing seems similar to Barbara Cartland’s style; only set into a modern time. I was obsessed with Barbara Cartland novels when I was 19. All the vapid pretty heroines and dashing beaus playing games of love. Not much character development. Ella Carey takes the character development somewhat further but still leaves me wanting more. I guess the locale and time period made up for the weakness of character and somewhat predictable plot, similar to Cartland. It was an entertaining, if not engrossing read. And I like to think my reading taste has matured.
February 7, 2020
My Rating 3.5*
This is book three in the Paris Time Capsule series. I have not yet read the second book "The House by the Lake" but did read the first one "Paris Time Capsule". Each of these books involve the courtesan, Marthe de Florian.
As the book description states, Sarah West's life has taken a hit. She has lost her parents and recently divorced her husband. While cleaning out her father's things, she comes across a letter postmarked 1895 from the renowned Marthe de Florian. It is from here that her journey begins and each chapter alternates between her in 2015 and her great-great aunt Louisa in the late 1890's.
"These older ghosts had a more comfortable distance than the painful, fresh ones right now." (quote from the book)
I enjoy dual stories/timelines, and I did so enjoy "Paris Time Capsule". I was intrigued to see the other side of the coin in this story. Unfortunately, I did not feel a connection to Louisa. I appreciate what Louisa's interests were, but I could not feel empathetic towards her. As for Sarah, I liked her a better but felt her story was a bit rushed and repetitive all at the same time. As Sarah searches for clues in Paris and England regarding her long ago aunt, she is also searching for who she truly is.
"It was as if the place were pregnant with the past, as is everything that had happened here loomed somewhere unseen, just out of reach - like Louisa's story. Gone forever, but somehow not done yet." (quote from the book)
Read
October 29, 2023There is a lot of family history, discussion of lineage and the family tree. I had to keep character notes so I could keep track of them all.
March 2, 2018
From a Paris Balcony
The Ella Carey Collection #3
Ella Carey
Lake Union Publishing, October 2016
300 pages, ebook, paperback, audiobook, MP3 CD
Women’s Lit, Historical, Romance
I purchased this at the current price. This is my honest review for which I am receiving no compensation of any kind.
✩✩✩✩
The cover is lovely and has the feel of an old memory. The story is not as directly related to the first book as the second one was, but still very much a part of the history of the apartment and its inhabitants. This story enlarges the scope a bit and tracks back from the people to the apartment as opposed to starting from the apartment working out. The characters were excellent. Sarah and Laurent, being the current day characters, were done very well. The family living in the old family estate were outstanding without being too terribly fleshed out. They were identifiable by their actions and comments. The characters of the past were also well-done and not just silhouettes on history’s stage for Sarah to discover. The pace and tension both suffered a bit from so much happening inside Sarah’s head. She spends a lot of time thinking things through, and it does get things explained and worked out, but then you have to get going again and try not to be sidetracked by any of it.
And here begins the reveal…
Sarah West is grieving the loss of both parents and her recent divorce. In clearing out some things in her father’s closet she finds a letter from Marthe de Florian dated 1895. Family legend had it that Louisa had committed suicide from a Paris balcony, but there was never any explanation as to why. The letter suggests that there was more to the situation than that. Finding the Paris apartment of Marthe de Florian is now available for rent, Sarah contacts Loic Archer to see if she can take the apartment.
Sarah ends up sharing the apartment with French artist Laurent Chartier. Loic warns her that he may not be the best of flatmates, but Sarah is not deterred. She willingly puts up with the models and Laurent’s painting until one night she is locked out of her bedroom supposedly by Laurent and whoever he has with him for the night. She sleeps on the chaise longue where Marthe de Florian entertained her callers all those decades ago. She awakes to find two fresh cups of coffee and Laurent painting at her side. He had made the mistake of lending his key to a friend without thinking it through. They had both been locked out of their bedrooms for the night, so he had painted at her side while she slept to be sure she was not disturbed. They talked and made peace and seemed to actually become friends after that. They spent time together some, meeting for drinks or coffee or meals occasionally. And she digs into the past.
The book jumps back and forth between present and past telling the stories of the two women simultaneously, but I’m not going to do that. I found it worked well in the book, but I’m not the book. I’m just going to tell you the story of Louisa here and then finish up with part of Sarah’s story. Okay?
Louisa is a young woman out of step with her family. Her mother has sent her back to England to find a husband or not return to the family. Louisa believes women should have a right to speak up for themselves and have a say in how they live their own lives. She wants to meet Mrs. Pankhurst, the women’s movement leader. Who she meets is Henry Duval, an unhappy, bored young man with more money than compassion. If he’d had any compassion, he’d have left Louisa alone. But he woos Louisa and convinces her that he believes the same things she does about men and women each living their own lives and having the freedom to do the things they want. Louisa is innocent, Henry is not. He plays to her in all things. He invites her to stay at his home, which is a palace. He even brings her a dog and takes her to his favorite secret place on the estate. He introduces her to his family and friends. The night of his ball, he asks her to marry him. He has already written to her father for permission. His mother and father approve. It only takes her agreement. Then he introduces her to his brother, Charlie, who has just returned from another of his estates. While Henry goes to let his parents know that Louisa has accepted him, Charlie tries to warn her that she’s making a terrible mistake about Henry.
Charlie and Louisa become quite good friends and he shows her around the estate on their daily morning rides. Then Louisa and Henry are married and go off to Paris for their honeymoon. Henry insisted Louisa rest after their journey and went out. He didn’t return all afternoon, or for dinner, or that evening, or by the time she retired for the night.
The next evening, Louisa insists on going with Henry. He argues that she should be doing her own things, but she insists she wants to see what fascinates him about Paris so much. The carriage takes them to Le Chat Noir.
“The footman, his eye diverted from everything, including Louisa, held the carriage door open for her to step outside. As soon as she did so, she was assailed with the squalid stench of cheap perfume blended with human sweat and the rank, turgid odor that emanated from every restaurant in the unbearably warm street. She lifted the hem of her dress instinctively, tried not to look too superior, too interested, or too shocked at the sight of number twelve in front of her.”
Henry strides ahead and is greeted intimately by a woman Louisa at first mistakes for a lady, but then realizes that there is too much skin on display for her to be one. Louisa observes for a while and is shocked at what she sees. This is a side of life she is not prepared for and had never imagined. She stumbles out of Le Chat Noir and finds the carriage to go home. The next morning Louisa decides a walk in the park will help her think. She is approached by none other than Marthe de Florian in her carriage. At a loss for how to handle this woman and what to say, the meeting is brief and Louisa feels that once again, the courtesan has won the round. At home the next day, Henry and Louisa hash out their situation. She realizes that she’s been royally taken and that Henry is not at all what she thought. She also realizes that it’s not quite the way she would have done it, but she does finally have the measure of freedom she has been trying to get in her life. She returns to England with the realization that she has married the wrong brother.
Louisa makes arrangements to meet with Mrs. Pankhurst. The two women get along quite well and Louisa leaves with a renewed sense of mission. She is determined to help women have more control of their own lives. While in London, Henry pays her a visit to remind her that they have a duty to the estate and that they both must act the part.
Back at Ashworth, Louisa has to tell Charlie that she is expecting Henry’s child. Charlie takes her off to Jess’s cottage. Jess was Henry and Charlie’s nanny, but still a young woman. She gives the two the cottage while she goes to have tea in the village. In the privacy of the cottage, the two open up about their love. Louisa tries to convince Charlie to marry someone, but he claims he doesn’t want to marry another woman. Louisa becomes very close to Jess and visits her frequently. With her help, Louisa meets with the local women who are brave enough to come forward initially and sets up a branch of the Women’s Franchise League.
Circumstances cause Louisa to visit Paris. She attends the races with Henry, but Charlie finds her there and escorts her away. They attend a party together not far from Marthe de Florian’s apartment and Henry is present. He is enraged at what he sees as betrayal from his younger brother and his wife. A vicious argument and fight ensue, as Louisa moves to deflect Henry’s strike from Charlie, she is thrown back over the low railing of the balcony. Her last thoughts are of her daughter, Evelyn, her work, and of Charlie.
Ashworth 2015
Sarah has spent a day and a night at the old family estate where Henry and Louisa had lived. The family had a first blocked her access to anything saying that Louisa was mentally unbalanced and that she surely committed suicide. They wouldn’t listen to talk about any other options. The next day, while the parents were away, the son, Jeremy, allows Sarah access to an old part of the palace that has been closed up since Henry and Louisa’s time. Their apartments are still there the way they left them. Sarah looks through the apartments and absorbs the ambiance, but there really isn’t anything for her to find. She wanders into the cemetery before leaving and meets a gardener, an old gardener named Frank Moore. Frank, being Jess’s great nephew, offers to speak with her about the past. Frank explains that Louisa’s baby was not a boy as she’s been told, but a girl, Evelyn. A girl, whom Henry eventually claimed was Charlie’s, not his. Whom Charlie took with him and left Ashworth on his way to Hong Kong to Louisa’s brother, Samuel. Through Frank’s story, Sarah discovers that she is the rightful heir to the estate, but she wants no part of it. She also discovers what happened on that Paris balcony all those years before because Charlie had written to Jess over the years.
Now, Sarah has her story and it’s time to go home. She’s at the train station and has to buy a ticket. But where to? She decides to buy one for Paris and Laurent. She’s to meet him at the Louvre where he’s teaching a class. As she approaches the crowd around him, students stand up and clear a pathway all the way to the front to his easel. Why?
“This one’s not for sale,” he said, his head tilted to one side. “It’s going in my apartment. After all, Marthe had a portrait of herself in her bedroom. I wanted one of you.”…
“He leaned down and brushed his lips over hers, for one exquisite moment.”
Recommended.
The Ella Carey Collection #3
Ella Carey
Lake Union Publishing, October 2016
300 pages, ebook, paperback, audiobook, MP3 CD
Women’s Lit, Historical, Romance
I purchased this at the current price. This is my honest review for which I am receiving no compensation of any kind.
✩✩✩✩
The cover is lovely and has the feel of an old memory. The story is not as directly related to the first book as the second one was, but still very much a part of the history of the apartment and its inhabitants. This story enlarges the scope a bit and tracks back from the people to the apartment as opposed to starting from the apartment working out. The characters were excellent. Sarah and Laurent, being the current day characters, were done very well. The family living in the old family estate were outstanding without being too terribly fleshed out. They were identifiable by their actions and comments. The characters of the past were also well-done and not just silhouettes on history’s stage for Sarah to discover. The pace and tension both suffered a bit from so much happening inside Sarah’s head. She spends a lot of time thinking things through, and it does get things explained and worked out, but then you have to get going again and try not to be sidetracked by any of it.
And here begins the reveal…
Sarah West is grieving the loss of both parents and her recent divorce. In clearing out some things in her father’s closet she finds a letter from Marthe de Florian dated 1895. Family legend had it that Louisa had committed suicide from a Paris balcony, but there was never any explanation as to why. The letter suggests that there was more to the situation than that. Finding the Paris apartment of Marthe de Florian is now available for rent, Sarah contacts Loic Archer to see if she can take the apartment.
Sarah ends up sharing the apartment with French artist Laurent Chartier. Loic warns her that he may not be the best of flatmates, but Sarah is not deterred. She willingly puts up with the models and Laurent’s painting until one night she is locked out of her bedroom supposedly by Laurent and whoever he has with him for the night. She sleeps on the chaise longue where Marthe de Florian entertained her callers all those decades ago. She awakes to find two fresh cups of coffee and Laurent painting at her side. He had made the mistake of lending his key to a friend without thinking it through. They had both been locked out of their bedrooms for the night, so he had painted at her side while she slept to be sure she was not disturbed. They talked and made peace and seemed to actually become friends after that. They spent time together some, meeting for drinks or coffee or meals occasionally. And she digs into the past.
The book jumps back and forth between present and past telling the stories of the two women simultaneously, but I’m not going to do that. I found it worked well in the book, but I’m not the book. I’m just going to tell you the story of Louisa here and then finish up with part of Sarah’s story. Okay?
Louisa is a young woman out of step with her family. Her mother has sent her back to England to find a husband or not return to the family. Louisa believes women should have a right to speak up for themselves and have a say in how they live their own lives. She wants to meet Mrs. Pankhurst, the women’s movement leader. Who she meets is Henry Duval, an unhappy, bored young man with more money than compassion. If he’d had any compassion, he’d have left Louisa alone. But he woos Louisa and convinces her that he believes the same things she does about men and women each living their own lives and having the freedom to do the things they want. Louisa is innocent, Henry is not. He plays to her in all things. He invites her to stay at his home, which is a palace. He even brings her a dog and takes her to his favorite secret place on the estate. He introduces her to his family and friends. The night of his ball, he asks her to marry him. He has already written to her father for permission. His mother and father approve. It only takes her agreement. Then he introduces her to his brother, Charlie, who has just returned from another of his estates. While Henry goes to let his parents know that Louisa has accepted him, Charlie tries to warn her that she’s making a terrible mistake about Henry.
Charlie and Louisa become quite good friends and he shows her around the estate on their daily morning rides. Then Louisa and Henry are married and go off to Paris for their honeymoon. Henry insisted Louisa rest after their journey and went out. He didn’t return all afternoon, or for dinner, or that evening, or by the time she retired for the night.
The next evening, Louisa insists on going with Henry. He argues that she should be doing her own things, but she insists she wants to see what fascinates him about Paris so much. The carriage takes them to Le Chat Noir.
“The footman, his eye diverted from everything, including Louisa, held the carriage door open for her to step outside. As soon as she did so, she was assailed with the squalid stench of cheap perfume blended with human sweat and the rank, turgid odor that emanated from every restaurant in the unbearably warm street. She lifted the hem of her dress instinctively, tried not to look too superior, too interested, or too shocked at the sight of number twelve in front of her.”
Henry strides ahead and is greeted intimately by a woman Louisa at first mistakes for a lady, but then realizes that there is too much skin on display for her to be one. Louisa observes for a while and is shocked at what she sees. This is a side of life she is not prepared for and had never imagined. She stumbles out of Le Chat Noir and finds the carriage to go home. The next morning Louisa decides a walk in the park will help her think. She is approached by none other than Marthe de Florian in her carriage. At a loss for how to handle this woman and what to say, the meeting is brief and Louisa feels that once again, the courtesan has won the round. At home the next day, Henry and Louisa hash out their situation. She realizes that she’s been royally taken and that Henry is not at all what she thought. She also realizes that it’s not quite the way she would have done it, but she does finally have the measure of freedom she has been trying to get in her life. She returns to England with the realization that she has married the wrong brother.
Louisa makes arrangements to meet with Mrs. Pankhurst. The two women get along quite well and Louisa leaves with a renewed sense of mission. She is determined to help women have more control of their own lives. While in London, Henry pays her a visit to remind her that they have a duty to the estate and that they both must act the part.
Back at Ashworth, Louisa has to tell Charlie that she is expecting Henry’s child. Charlie takes her off to Jess’s cottage. Jess was Henry and Charlie’s nanny, but still a young woman. She gives the two the cottage while she goes to have tea in the village. In the privacy of the cottage, the two open up about their love. Louisa tries to convince Charlie to marry someone, but he claims he doesn’t want to marry another woman. Louisa becomes very close to Jess and visits her frequently. With her help, Louisa meets with the local women who are brave enough to come forward initially and sets up a branch of the Women’s Franchise League.
Circumstances cause Louisa to visit Paris. She attends the races with Henry, but Charlie finds her there and escorts her away. They attend a party together not far from Marthe de Florian’s apartment and Henry is present. He is enraged at what he sees as betrayal from his younger brother and his wife. A vicious argument and fight ensue, as Louisa moves to deflect Henry’s strike from Charlie, she is thrown back over the low railing of the balcony. Her last thoughts are of her daughter, Evelyn, her work, and of Charlie.
Ashworth 2015
Sarah has spent a day and a night at the old family estate where Henry and Louisa had lived. The family had a first blocked her access to anything saying that Louisa was mentally unbalanced and that she surely committed suicide. They wouldn’t listen to talk about any other options. The next day, while the parents were away, the son, Jeremy, allows Sarah access to an old part of the palace that has been closed up since Henry and Louisa’s time. Their apartments are still there the way they left them. Sarah looks through the apartments and absorbs the ambiance, but there really isn’t anything for her to find. She wanders into the cemetery before leaving and meets a gardener, an old gardener named Frank Moore. Frank, being Jess’s great nephew, offers to speak with her about the past. Frank explains that Louisa’s baby was not a boy as she’s been told, but a girl, Evelyn. A girl, whom Henry eventually claimed was Charlie’s, not his. Whom Charlie took with him and left Ashworth on his way to Hong Kong to Louisa’s brother, Samuel. Through Frank’s story, Sarah discovers that she is the rightful heir to the estate, but she wants no part of it. She also discovers what happened on that Paris balcony all those years before because Charlie had written to Jess over the years.
Now, Sarah has her story and it’s time to go home. She’s at the train station and has to buy a ticket. But where to? She decides to buy one for Paris and Laurent. She’s to meet him at the Louvre where he’s teaching a class. As she approaches the crowd around him, students stand up and clear a pathway all the way to the front to his easel. Why?
“This one’s not for sale,” he said, his head tilted to one side. “It’s going in my apartment. After all, Marthe had a portrait of herself in her bedroom. I wanted one of you.”…
“He leaned down and brushed his lips over hers, for one exquisite moment.”
Recommended.
October 5, 2016
When I read the blurb about this being about Marthe de Florian I immediately pushed the button to request this book. I don't know what it intrigues me about her. I guess the fact that her apartment was left empty and abandoned for 70 years has quite a lot to do about it. I've read another book but it was mainly about her and her granddaughter, Isabella. For the life of me, I can't remember the name of the book, but I did enjoy it.
Now on to this book. I was definitely entertained and really liked it. There were a few times when I grew tired of listening to Louisa pine about Charles, but I guess if I was that unhappy in a marriage I would do the same thing. Speaking of her marriage, Henry was nothing but a true cad. What a horrible man he was.
It was very interesting seeing Sarah go back and find out what really happened to Louisa. I figured it was something like that. However, the aftereffects were even worse. I can't tell you what they were without spoiling it for you.
This was a great read and if your into historical fiction, this would be a great book to pick up and take home. There is a lot of senseless tragedy involved, but there is a lot of good things that happen as well. I would definitely recommend this book. I know I enjoyed it.
A huge thanks to Lake Union Publishing for approving my request and to Net Galley for providing me with a free e-galley in exchange for an honest review.
Now on to this book. I was definitely entertained and really liked it. There were a few times when I grew tired of listening to Louisa pine about Charles, but I guess if I was that unhappy in a marriage I would do the same thing. Speaking of her marriage, Henry was nothing but a true cad. What a horrible man he was.
It was very interesting seeing Sarah go back and find out what really happened to Louisa. I figured it was something like that. However, the aftereffects were even worse. I can't tell you what they were without spoiling it for you.
This was a great read and if your into historical fiction, this would be a great book to pick up and take home. There is a lot of senseless tragedy involved, but there is a lot of good things that happen as well. I would definitely recommend this book. I know I enjoyed it.
A huge thanks to Lake Union Publishing for approving my request and to Net Galley for providing me with a free e-galley in exchange for an honest review.
August 3, 2023
Did not care for the audiobook narrator. Story was predictable.
March 6, 2017
Nice easy read. 2 stories one set in 2015 and one in 1895. Sarah West investigating her ancestor Louisa West and her tragic death over 100 years ago. This is the 3rd book in the series.
September 18, 2016
I started this book without expectations as such as I had only read one book by this author previously. Nonetheless, I was looking forward to the stories as I enjoyed the previous one I read by Ms Carey.
And yes, you read that right. Stories. You need to read her books to know what I mean by that.
While I read this book, I felt acutely the emotions that were experienced by the protagonists. The flow of the story would not let the situation be otherwise for me.
The characterisation and scenarios of both past and present makes for an enjoyable read.
I won’t go into discussion of everything about the book however I may wish to because I want to keep the review to a length people will consider reading and there are points that I would definitely like to talk about.
Firstly, this talks about the struggle women have been to for us to breathe in a relatively very free atmosphere. his novel set in past and present talks about the struggles of women in the late 19th century. How one decision after another is forced on them. How they are given to believe they have power while they are nothing but mere puppets of society. Not just that, it also brings to light the taboo surrounding divorce (at least in my part of the world). It talks about how life doesn’t end after a divorce. Unlike society thinking it ruining a woman’s life, divorce actually helps a woman better her life once she is no more in a stifling relationship.
Secondly, one thing that I must say that intrigued me so much about the ending of the novel was how it refuted an old saying that history is written by the winners. This book shows how people think they are winners and try changing the course of history but they are in fact the ones who have lost. The truth comes to fore however deep it be hid.
I loved it and will recommend it to anyone who is reading this.
And yes, you read that right. Stories. You need to read her books to know what I mean by that.
While I read this book, I felt acutely the emotions that were experienced by the protagonists. The flow of the story would not let the situation be otherwise for me.
The characterisation and scenarios of both past and present makes for an enjoyable read.
I won’t go into discussion of everything about the book however I may wish to because I want to keep the review to a length people will consider reading and there are points that I would definitely like to talk about.
Firstly, this talks about the struggle women have been to for us to breathe in a relatively very free atmosphere. his novel set in past and present talks about the struggles of women in the late 19th century. How one decision after another is forced on them. How they are given to believe they have power while they are nothing but mere puppets of society. Not just that, it also brings to light the taboo surrounding divorce (at least in my part of the world). It talks about how life doesn’t end after a divorce. Unlike society thinking it ruining a woman’s life, divorce actually helps a woman better her life once she is no more in a stifling relationship.
Secondly, one thing that I must say that intrigued me so much about the ending of the novel was how it refuted an old saying that history is written by the winners. This book shows how people think they are winners and try changing the course of history but they are in fact the ones who have lost. The truth comes to fore however deep it be hid.
I loved it and will recommend it to anyone who is reading this.
March 11, 2018
Interesting material and plot but felt rather lighter than it should have been ....
The character development was weak for me and the writing could have been more descriptive as we are dealing with Paris in the belle epoque and English estates.
The story-line kept me going with twists and turns, though there were some slow bits that dragged. The ending was too contrived and over-wraught, I mean the main protagonist finding secrets of her heritage on an off chance, actually being the heir to the duchy and then taking it all in stride as if someone had gotten her coffee order wrong.....
Marthe de Florian was an interesting character to include though really she was only ever on the sidelines. I feel she could have been much more well developed as so little is known about her. Nice touch using the name 'Henry' as her love interest, as both her sons were named 'Henri'
Overall rating 2.5 stars
The character development was weak for me and the writing could have been more descriptive as we are dealing with Paris in the belle epoque and English estates.
The story-line kept me going with twists and turns, though there were some slow bits that dragged. The ending was too contrived and over-wraught, I mean the main protagonist finding secrets of her heritage on an off chance, actually being the heir to the duchy and then taking it all in stride as if someone had gotten her coffee order wrong.....
Marthe de Florian was an interesting character to include though really she was only ever on the sidelines. I feel she could have been much more well developed as so little is known about her. Nice touch using the name 'Henry' as her love interest, as both her sons were named 'Henri'
Overall rating 2.5 stars
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
October 9, 2016
I would like to thank NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC of "From a Paris Balcony" by Ella Carey. After reading Alyson Richman's "The Velvet Hours",which I loved, I wanted to read "From a Paris Balcony by Ella Carey.
Ella Carey is extremely descriptive of Paris and the apartment that Parisian Courtesan Marthe de Florian had lived in. One of the main characters, Sarah West, finds a letter in her father's attic from Marthe de Florian from 1895 relating to Sarah's great great aunt, Louisa. Louisa had an untimely death, and Sarah is going through a difficult time in her life and wants to investigate this matter. The author goes back and forth from the past and present. The story was entertaining, and the characters were interesting. I would recommend this book for anyone that likes this time period . The genre is historical fiction.
Ella Carey is extremely descriptive of Paris and the apartment that Parisian Courtesan Marthe de Florian had lived in. One of the main characters, Sarah West, finds a letter in her father's attic from Marthe de Florian from 1895 relating to Sarah's great great aunt, Louisa. Louisa had an untimely death, and Sarah is going through a difficult time in her life and wants to investigate this matter. The author goes back and forth from the past and present. The story was entertaining, and the characters were interesting. I would recommend this book for anyone that likes this time period . The genre is historical fiction.
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