New York–based photographer Cat Jordan is ready to begin a new life with her successful, button-down boyfriend. But when she learns that she’s inherited the estate of a complete stranger—a woman named Isabelle de Florian—her life is turned upside down.Cat arrives in Paris to find that she is now the owner of a perfectly preserved Belle Époque apartment in the ninth arrondissement, and that the … that the Frenchwoman’s family knew nothing about this secret estate. Amid these strange developments, Cat is left with burning questions: Who was Isabelle de Florian? And why did she leave the inheritance to Cat instead of her own family?
As Cat travels France in search of answers, she feels her grasp on her New York life starting to slip. With long-buried secrets coming to light and an attraction to Isabelle de Florian’s grandson growing too intense to ignore, Cat will have to decide what to let go of, and what to claim as her own.
Revised edition: This edition of Paris Time Capsule includes editorial revisions.
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This was a one-day read for me, a compelling story inspired by a real-life Paris apartment discovered in 2010. It had been owned decades ago a courtesan – and never opened since. Carey’s imaginative take on what its history might have been made for a fun read!
Loved this story! Based on the finding of a real apartment untouched since 1943, the author created a set of interesting characters to tell a very romantic story.
Cat Jordan inherits an apartment in Paris from someone she doesn’t know. She leaves New York to find out why. When she arrives and visits the apartment, she’s shocked to find it has been untouched since 1940. What happened to the owner, who is the person who left her the apartment? And so, the novel uncovers the mystery of what happened and why?
Complicating things is a handsome Frenchman, Loic who has a possible claim to the apartment and Cat’s controlling merchant banker fiancé, Christian who wants her to come home to New York for her engagement party. The inheritance forces Cat to review what she wants for herself rather than what others want for her.
This is an intriguing story and was inspired by the real-life story of a woman who fled her apartment as the Nazi’s marched into Paris. She never returned. It wasn’t until her death in 2010 that the untouched apartment was discovered.
What a wonderful premise for a story and I was very quickly hooked, impatient to find out why Cat had inherited the apartment and the owners history. I was drawn into the French countryside and the history of Paris in the 1930’s which was fascinating and well described.
However, there were times where the story slowed down, when Cat was distracted by Loic and his family or by a bit of sightseeing or her fiancé who was not particularly likeable. Cat was bewildered and Loic was – well he’s a Frenchman – what more can I say. The twists and turns in the story made me so impatient for answers I read this one very quickly.
It’s an easy read and despite my impatience, I was very satisfied with the end. Give this one a go for a light, holiday read.
Good historical basis but expanded well.
Interesting plot based upon a true incident. Original and well written.
Don’t miss this one, what a great book!
Loved the descriptions of the French villages. Nice blending of World Wars history.
A light read, unrealistic but enjoyable.
Loved the way she created another storyline about the Paris apartment.
A lovely story!
I have a new favorite author. I loved this book and have downloaded several more of her books.
Original. Kept me guessing till the end. Love the characters
Love any book that takes me to my favorite city, Paris
I just enjoyed it. It was a fun quick read. A little mystery, a little romance.
Disappointing and inane!
I LOVED IT! I even looked up info online about the painting by Giovanni Boldini, and that brought photos of the apartment talked about in this novel. The only negative is that I got confused with some of the characters and wish there was a Family Tree included. I hate when I finish a book because it now means I have to look for another. Maybe I’ll look for another by this author, Ella Carey
Loved, loved, loved it! Couldn’t put it down!
It kept me interested until the very last page.
A very good read.
A good mystery right to the end.
Inheriting a furnished apartment in Paris that is furnished in expensive furnishings from a different time. Fun read.