THE INTERNATIONAL BESTSELLER
Bienvenue à Paris!When April Vogt’s boss tells her about an apartment in the ninth arrondissement that has been discovered after being shuttered for the past seventy years, the Sotheby’s continental furniture specialist does not hear the words “dust” or “rats” or “decrepit.” She hears Paris. She hears escape.Once in France, April quickly learns the … Paris. She hears escape.
Once in France, April quickly learns the apartment is not merely some rich hoarder’s repository. Beneath the cobwebs and stale perfumed air is a goldmine, and not because of the actual gold (or painted ostrich eggs or mounted rhinoceros horns or bronze bathtub). First, there’s a portrait by one of the masters of the Belle Epoque, Giovanni Boldini. And then there are letters and journals written by the very woman in the painting, Marthe de Florian. These documents reveal that she was more than a renowned courtesan with enviable decolletage. Suddenly April’s quest is no longer about the bureaux plats and Louis-style armchairs that will fetch millions at auction. It’s about discovering the story behind this charismatic woman.
It’s about discovering two women, actually.
With the help of a salty (and annoyingly sexy) Parisian solicitor and the courtesan’s private diaries, April tries to uncover the many secrets buried in the apartment. As she digs into Marthe’s life, April can’t help but take a deeper look into her own. Having left behind in the States a cheating husband, a family crisis about to erupt, and a career she’s been using as the crutch to simply get by, she feels compelled to sort out her own life too. When the things she left bubbling back home begin to boil over, and Parisian delicacies beyond flaky pâtisseries tempt her better judgment, April knows that both she and Marthe deserve happy finales.
Whether accompanied by croissants or champagne, this delectable debut novel depicts the Paris of the Belle Epoque and the present day with vibrant and stunning allure. Based on historical events, Michelle Gable’s A Paris Apartment will entertain and inspire, as readers embrace the struggles and successes of two very unforgettable women.
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Read the French version, so that alone was a plus. The end is not stellar; it kind of runs out of energy. If you like to read in French you’ll probably enjoy it more.
Unique novel based upon true facts weaved into a beautiful story of what might have happened.
Couln’t get into it.
Light but with heart
wonderful characters and a great story.
I loved this book, and the war waged with the bureaucracy and his contractors.
A great story that made me love Paris even more.
Since going to Paris and learning more about the city this was a fun read for me.
Way too crass for me. I didn’t finish it.
enjoyed this book and the other 3 books in the series
I looked up the artist Boldini and was able to ‘see’ all the paintings that are mentioned in the story. It visually added to the story.
Predictable, but nice atmosphere. Enjoyed the discriptions of Paris.
I remember seeing some thing back in 2010 in the news about this apartment. It was a fantastic read about the apartment and what Mathe wrote in her journals of the history and goings on from the late 1880’s through the 1930’s in Paris. All is facts as I looked some of it up on the Internet. This author did a fantastic job of putting facts into a story line. Highly recommend this book.
Tragically, hauntingly, interesting charachters, with fascinating historical story base. Having said that, it’s not a tragedy or a mystery, or a love story, but there’s a bit of everything, and a little twist or two.
I didn’t want to put it down. A fun read!
Too slow and not interesting. Poorly paced.
Well written great premise
Enjoyable read, with two well developed time frames….old Paris and currently. Great first novel
Loved this!
A delightful author. I’ll read any and all of her books.