The small green chest was concealed at the back of her father’s wardrobe. Its hinges were made of brass that must once have shone, but now the surface was roughened and dull. As she opened the lock, there was only one thing inside: a letter, postmarked 1895, Paris. England, 1895. Louisa West, a young beauty from Boston, looks like she has it all: a handsome husband, she is lady of Ashworth Manor … husband, she is lady of Ashworth Manor and one day she’ll be a duchess. But in truth, her life is falling apart. Louisa’s honeymoon is barely over when her husband deserts her, leaving her devastated and alone. She flees to Paris, longing to escape her grief, but finds only tragedy…
Boston, 2015. Life hasn’t been kind to Sarah West. In one year, she has lost both her parents and her marriage. After her father’s death, Sarah is sorting through his belongings when she finds a letter about her mysterious ancestor, Louisa. There have always been whispers in the family about Louisa’s suicide—from a high balcony in Paris—but as Sarah reads, she starts to question everything she was told. Desperate to leave her broken heart behind, she books a trip to Paris to find out more…
When Sarah arrives in the city of lights, the cobbled streets of Montmartre and the river Seine at twilight make her heart sing. Then, on the bookshelf of a beautiful Paris apartment, hidden inside the yellowing pages of an old novel, she finds a note about Louisa which shatters Sarah’s understanding of her family’s past. Did Louisa really throw herself from a Paris balcony? And when Sarah uncovers the truth, will it change everything about her future?
An utterly captivating and emotional historical novel from bestselling author Ella Carey that will transport you to Paris at its most glamorous. From a Paris Balcony will have fans of Rhys Bowen, Fiona Valpy and My Name is Eva totally gripped!
Readers are utterly enchanted by From a Paris Balcony:
“This book was amazing!!! Loved the story. Highly recommend. This is a book I will remember for a very long time.” Goodreads Reviewer ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
“A must-read!!… I never guessed the ending throughout the entire book! I didn’t want the story to end.” Goodreads Reviewer ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
“The setting in Paris and the mystery behind the suicide of Louisa keeps you hooked. I read this book straight through until morning.” Goodreads Reviewer ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
“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… A fabulously written story… 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.” Goodreads Reviewer ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
“A must-read. I was lost in the city of Paris… I could not put the book down as I was lost in that world and wanted to know what happened next.” Goodreads Reviewer ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
“A story I could not put down. Exceptional. Laced with sexual tension, plus a mystery and a present-day romance.” Goodreads Reviewer ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
“This author is truly an amazing writer! One by one I’m reading all of her books and I recommend you do too! You can’t help but read this in one sitting, it’s such a heart-wrenching story.” Goodreads Reviewer ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
“Five stars plus. Once again, I have fallen in love with the characters and the storyline. I recommend this book for a rainy-day read or a great choice to read on vacation.” Goodreads Reviewer ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐more
This is an incredible book! I loved every moment. I would just like to share all of my favorite parts as the review but that would spoil it. This is a must read! So different, the author really thought out everything. It’s a three dimensional read! You will love every character! So much incredible packed into one book!
Sarah lives in Boston. Her parents have recently died and her husband – the man she thought was her soul mate – has left her for another woman. While cleaning out her parents house she finds a small green chest concealed at the back of her father’s wardrobe. When she opened the chest, there was only one thing inside: a letter, postmarked 1895, Paris. Determined to find out more about the letter and a distant aunt who committed suicide in Paris, she goes to Paris and rents the apartment that originally belonged to Isbelle deFlorian. The more information she uncovers, the more sure she is that her aunt Louisa was murdered and didn’t kill herself. She also finds out that Louisa’s husband had a great friendship with the courtesan from book one. Sarah and Louisa were both interesting characters and both were looking for love and understanding in their lives. As with the other two books, this one had mystery, romance and lots of historical detail.
It flowed smoothly between the past and present. I read this on vacation and once I picked it up I did not set it down. Loved the surprising strong Female character.
Heartbroken and alone, Boston art curator Sarah West is grieving the recent deaths deaths of her parents and her divorce. While cleaning out her father’s closet, she finds a letter from a famous Parisian courtesan during the Elle Epoque. Legend has it Louisa (Sarah’s great-great-great aunt). The book follows Sarah’s story in our time and her aumt’s story in the late 1800’s as they reveal not only the truth of her death, but truths about both women’s lives, loves, and expectations.
Sadly, no mental/emotional connection between the first person narrative characters and the readers ever developed. There was potential for a deeply moving story and a historically interesting vignette, but “Paris Balcony ” didn’t deliver.
As to relationships, again by allowing the two narrative characters to be portrayed in only two dimensional descriptive manner, no empathetic connection was ever made.
Ella Carey does have a pleasing writing style with easily digestible details. For her writing, I rated a 4; for the book, I rated a 3. However, since THIS book is the one on the shelf for sale, I’ll leave the final tally at 3.
*Thanks are due to NetGalley and Lake Union Publishing for providing the opportunity to read and review this book.
Life hasn’t been kind to Sarah West. In one year, she has lost both her parents and her marriage. After her father’s death, Sarah is sorting through his belongings when she finds a letter about her mysterious ancestor, Louisa. There have always been whispers in the family about Louisa’s suicide—from a high balcony in Paris—but as Sarah reads, she starts to question everything she was told. Desperate to leave her broken heart behind, she books a trip to Paris to find out more…
When Sarah arrives in the city of lights, the cobbled streets of Montmartre and the river Seine at twilight make her heart sing. Then, on the bookshelf of a beautiful Paris apartment, hidden inside the yellowing pages of an old novel, she finds a note about Louisa which shatters Sarah’s understanding of her family’s past. Did Louisa really throw herself from a Paris balcony? And when Sarah uncovers the truth, will it change everything about her future?
Wonderfully written book. While I’m not really much into historical fiction, I loved the back and forth of present and future and the evolution and ties of all the characters. Was not expecting to cry so good job there!
I loved the unexpected story. This is incredibly well-written! I am a “breezy reader” usually— breezing through pages and words. But this was so expertly written I read everything to enjoy the sights and sounds of Paris, and the mansion. Most enjoyable!
Wow, this is an incredibly amazing read, and one of the best dual timelines I have read in ages.
Sarah finds an old letter among her late father’s possessions which leads her from Boston to Paris and England in search of the truth about an ancestor.
The reader is taken on an emotional journey from the late 19th century England and Paris to present day Boston, Paris and England.
Well written and researched; I cannot recommend this book highly enough.
The story that started in Paris Time Capsule and continued in The House on the Lake finishes in From a Paris Balcony. As with the other two books in the trilogy, the author uses a contemporary plot line in conjunction with historical timelines. Sarah is an art curator whose life has been turned upside down. She ends up sharing Marthe’s Belle Epoque apartment (a through line of the trilogy) with Laurent, an artist. The contemporary portions of the story weren’t so great to me, but the historical ones were much better. The author does a good job creating the atmosphere that Marthe lived in. It appeared that the author liked the past and treated that story line with more care. All in all, it was a good trilogy, and I am glad that I had the opportunity to read it. Thank you to NetGalley and Bookouture for a digital ARC of the book.
The moment this book was recommended to me I was intrigued.
The name and the cover caused me to click on the link and when I read the synopsis and review I had to read it.
This a dualistic story taking the reader from the past to the present world in very successful chapters. Though two stories it had one objective – to find your own two feet in a world that still dictates us. In Louisa’s time, it was even worse. Back in 1895, the world for an openminded woman was harsher, more strict, and when you are in a dukedom you had to learn quickly where your place was. Women back then had no rights and with the women’s rights movement still in its diapers, every woman who made a choice to follow knew they would be ostracized.
In the present time, we meet Sarah, an ancestor of Louisa during a time of her life where she had to find herself in the maelstrom of life after a divorce.
The similarities are real. Both the women’s confusion and fight for control real.
Both women came to Paris for the answers which they received. But for the one, it ended badly while for the other it meant a new beginning.
It is a fast-paced book cloaked in mystery, romance and truth.
It is definitely a must-read for all women liking this genre.
The only reason it is not 5 stars is all the and’s in the book.
Otherwise, the flow and ease with which the author has written draw you into the lives of the two main characters and really help you to appreciate what you have.
This was a captivating quick read that I swallowed in one sleepless night. I love how the author drew on the news story from a decade or two ago about the Paris apartment that had been locked for decades and when it was opened again, it was found to be a time capsule of a bygone era. I found the history aspect engaging, and while the love story was predictable, I still enjoyed the ride.
Loved this book, good plot and well written
Entertaining view of how life intertwines over time. I liked the characters and their journey.
Loved this story.
It was an good book, light and easy to read. But, a little too predictable.
Truly enjoyed this book. Will put on my “to-be-read-again “ list.
Had this been totally fictional, it would have been a really good read. But after I finished this engrossing book I researched the book, and … fascinating. To see actual pictures from a Paris apartment and its furnishings that had been forgotten and locked away in time for 40 years … absolutely haunting. This is one that stayed with me a long time. Great book.
I enjoyed the book. I love Paris as the background setting; there was a lot of detail about the city. The book leaves you hanging, waiting for a sequel.
Interesting view of people reacting to expectations placed upon them by the world around them. Like the structure of the book with a character of the present looking for answers about the past.
This book had good historic background of Paris in the era of the Belle Epoque, and the contrast with modern day was rather nice. I found the writing style to be a bit stilted and perhaps flowery. The story lines were good but underdeveloped. It was a pretty fast read and you never really got to know the characters well.