Twenty-eight-year-old struggling San Francisco artist Anne McFarland is determined to get a one-woman show, even though no one, including herself, believes she can do it. But when she buys a coat at a thrift shop with a key in its pocket, strange, even magical, occurrences begin to unfold, and she is inspired to create her best work ever. Fifty years earlier, it’s 1963, and the coat’s original … coat’s original owner, young heiress Sylvia Van Dam, is headed toward a disastrous marriage with a scoundrel. In a split-second reaction she does the unimaginable, which propels her on a trip of self-discovery to nature-filled Northern Arizona. When Anne and Sylvia’s lives intersect, they are both forced to face their fears―and, in the process, realize their true potential.
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Could not put it down!
Part of this novel reminded me of watching some of the old movies from the 1960’s. I could ‘hear’ Sylvia speaking in a soft, cultured voice, and ‘see’ her as the sheltered daughter of wealthy parents, yet with a wild side chafing to see the world. Contemporary Anne is a starving artist searching for confidence and a big break for her career.
Told in dual storylines; the book is easy to read and keep the protagonist’s separate because the two women are so very different. A black velvet Dior coat with an old key in the pocket is what melds Sylvia’s past and Annie’s present together. I found the storyline absorbing, well-written, thought provoking, and a page-turner. A great escape to read anytime of year.
I found this book boring
Interesting, watching a young artist trying to find her way
Once she found this coat. She became driven to find our about the owner and her life. Through several coincidences, she found the owner of the coat when the husband bought the piece of art that had a picture of the pin in the coat and had the artist deliver it. This set off a chain of events that instilled in the artist a purpose and a will to become the artist she wanted to be.
I enjoyed this book as it had a unique style of writing. You really end up loving the female lead. It was a treat to read!
What a great read!! I read it in one day. Cared about the characters and what happened to them. Engaging!!
I enjoyed reading the book. They way the author chose to weave the past and the present together was entertaining. It was as if I were reading two different stories at the same time.
I love books with stories that take place in separate times and eventually connect, and this enchanting and entertaining gem captured my imagination. A San Francisco struggling artist purchases a black velvet coat with a beautiful rhinestone snowflake pin in a thrift shop. When she discovers a photo of a woman wearing the very same coat with the pin in a vintage magazine, she becomes fascinated and obsessed with discovering the identity of the woman.
Alternately a story unravels about a wealthy heiress in 1963, who discovers that the charismatic man she’s fallen in love with, and is about to marry, is a dangerous manipulator.
Both protagonists had big hearts and interesting stories, and I loved the way their stories merged.
This story concerns a coat and two women who owned it 50 years apart. I loved it! It was a wonderful love story!
Poorly written. Plot too predictable and characters disappointingly shallow and one-dimensional.
Thoroughly enjoyed this book. Recommend it.
Great story of an event from years ago discovered by a present day character.
Easy too read with interesting characters
Goes to show what a talisman can do!
Great book. I recommend it
Love this book. A fun read
Loved this book but the ending left me crazy!!!!
A fun light entertaining book
While not great literature, this was a fun read. If you want pure escape, I recommend it. A clever story-line, and kept me going until the end.
It has a lot of heart and a lot of potential. Just didn’t keep me hooked or invested in the characters.