The New York Times bestselling author of The Library of Light and Shadow crafts “an enchanting glimpse of Jazz Age New York” (Christina Baker Kline, #1 New York Times bestselling author of Orphan Train) about a young painter whose traumatic past threatens to derail her career at a prestigious summer artists’ colony run by Louis Comfort Tiffany of Tiffany & Co. fame. New York, 1924: … Co. fame.
New York, 1924: Twenty‑four‑year‑old Jenny Bell is one of a dozen burgeoning artists invited to Louis Comfort Tiffany’s prestigious artists’ colony. Gifted and determined, Jenny vows to avoid all distractions and take full advantage of the many wonders to be found at Laurelton Hall.
But Jenny’s past has followed her there. Images of her beloved mother, her hard-hearted stepfather, murder, and the dank hallways of Canada’s notorious Andrew Mercer Reformatory for Women overwhelm Jenny’s thoughts, even as she is inextricably drawn to Oliver, Tiffany’s charismatic grandson.
As the summer shimmers on, and the competition between the artists grows fierce as they vie for a spot at Tiffany’s New York gallery, a series of suspicious and disturbing occurrences suggest someone else knows about Jenny’s childhood trauma.
Supported by her closest friend Minx Deering, a seemingly carefree socialite yet dedicated sculptor, and Oliver, Jenny pushes her demons aside. Between stolen kisses and jewels, the champagne flows and the jazz plays on until one moonless night when Jenny’s past and present are thrown together in a desperate moment, that will threaten her promising future, her love, her friendships, and her very life.
“This fast-paced mystery, star-crossed romance, and love letter to Louis Comfort Tiffany will captivate Rose’s many fans and readers of 20th-century historical fiction” (Library Journal, starred review).
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I love Tiffany and the wonderful art associated with him. But this book starts on the premise of inventing history. Which in my mind is NOT historical fiction. I’ll pass.
Weak plot. Gives insight to Louis Comfort Tiffany’s wealth and luxurious 85 room house on Long Island and surrounding magnificent gardens. Mostly dwells on the lives of students participating in the prestigious summer art program on the Tiffany estate grounds in the summer of 1924.
When I start a book that everyone is talking about I am always worried that it won’t live up to the hype, that I won’t like it as much as everyone else, and that it just won’t be all that for me. I was pulled into a world that I didn’t know much about. The world of art is a virtual unknown to me; I go to museums but have never studied art. Yet, I was invested in Jenny, Oliver, and Minx. I wanted them to figure out their lives and find their happy ending.
Tiffany Blues is a light romance book with some mystery and history. The story was not a quick read and usually I struggle to finish slower books. With Tiffany Blues, I didn’t feel the must-read feeling that I have with other books but I knew that I had to read until the very end. I anticipated that there would be twists, turns, and so many other unknowns to be discovered before the book came to an end.
M.J. Rose is an author that I look to for a gothic and historical feel and I’m not sure this had as much of a gothic feeling as her other books have. With all that being said this is a book that I do recommend reading.
I loved the characters. It was hot and steamy!
Favorite Quotes:
I tried to make my voice light. My mother once told me I had a silver voice that tarnished when I wasn’t giving her the whole truth.
I’ve just always viewed marriage as a job, and it’s not the job I want for myself in the foreseeable future.
I felt as if I’d stepped inside a jewelry box. Everything shone and sparkled and glowed in gemstone shades
We’re all broken in one way or another, but it’s through the cracks in our souls that the light comes through. And the light, Jenny, that’s our art.
My Review:
Tiffany Blues wasn’t at all what I was expecting, and more the better. This was my first exposure to M.J. Rose and I now count myself her newest fan. Her clever combinations of words deftly painted rich and opulent pictures, equivalent in skill and technique to any of the Old Masters. My curiosity was quickly snagged by the intriguing prologue and continued forth as an ominous and haunting ambiance of tension, danger, and potential exposure of long-hidden secrets remained throughout, which kept me on edge and nibbling at my cuticles. The writing was lushly detailed with colorful and lavish descriptions of the well-appointed accommodations, feasts, gardens, and elegant clothing and décor. The storylines were gradually developed yet well-crafted, engaging, tragic, and captivating.
I cannot imagine the amount of research involved in such an undertaking but I reveled in the fruits of her labor as I enjoyed learning many interesting little tidbits and history of the time as was unaware of the trendy interest in spiritualism, the history of Ouija boards, and of Thomas Edison’s Spirit Phone – which I Googled to be certain, and he had actually labored with other scientists of the day toward “a telephone that calls beyond this realm to reach people who have passed.” As neared the end I began to fret with increasing alarm that my niggling questions would be left unanswered. Silly me, I sighed a satisfied and relaxing breath at the clever conclusion. Well-played Ms. Rose, “there is beauty even in broken things.”
I love this author’s beautiful writing! The pictures she paints with her words are stunning and simply marvelous. The world created in this vibrant tale of talented artists, young lovers, horrific tragedy and a time of yesteryear is like none other. I love the factual history of Tiffany and his estate for artists. This held a special interest for me since I once created stained glass art and emulate Tiffany’s exceptional techniques for my works. Her vivid descriptions of the sublime Tiffany culture, the estate and the group of artists ensconced there in the 1920’s are superb. The characters are wonderfully layered and uniquely different, each with their own story amidst the camaraderie, romance and secrets. The heroine, Jenny, is harboring a secret that could be life altering if exposed. Her story is revealed in a flip between the past and present. As it unfolds, Oliver is there to support her and his love for her is wonderful. If only the young lovers could withstand the drama and intrigue . Exceptional storytelling with elements of darkness, danger and mystery that flash with the creativity of the characters leaves me supremely satisfied as a reader. Just fabulous! I voluntarily reviewed an ARC.
This is my first M.J. Rose book and I loved it! I am not a huge historical romance fan, but Tiffany Blues was so well written! Great characters and story that has some truth to it (and historically accurate!). I highly recommend this one!
I won a free copy of this book from BookishFirst after reading a First Read and finding it intriguing.
After doing extensive research the author has woven the history of the Louis Comfort Tiffany Foundation at Laurelton Hall on Long Island into an interesting an exciting piece of fiction by the insertion of a twenty four year old fictional artist, Jenny Bell, attending on of the summer sessions. The history itself is fascinating, but the addition of Jenny’s character, artfully developed, struggling to overcome a childhood trauma brings the history to life. Jenny doesn’t trust men and is not looking for romance or anything that will distract her from her dream to study in Paris. Nevertheless she finds it at Laurelton. The author writes lush descriptions of the scenery and adeptly develops the characters of artists, Jenny’s family and the Tiffany family members. Jenny’s struggle to capture “the allure and mystique of light”, will leave the reader with a sense of noticing light reflected on everything in sight. More than a romance, there is a mystery to be solved.