January 26, 2015
This haunting tale of possession, set in 1894 Paris, from bestseller Rose (The Book of Lost Fragrances) inaugurates a new trilogy. “I did not cause the madness, the deaths, or the rest of the tragedies... I had help.” So says New York socialite and artist Sandrine Salome, who bears the scars of her first traumatic experience with love. At 15, she was caught, naked, with 18-year-old Leon Ferre. When Leon’s father learned of the nature of their relationship, he slapped his son, accidentally triggering a fatal asthma attack in the boy. Ten years later, to escape her treacherous husband, Sandrine flees New York for her grandmother’s home in Paris, where her grandmother reminds Sandrine that the City of Lights is “poison” to her. Sure enough, Sandrine finds herself taken over by the spirit of La Lune, the woman of “moon dreams, of legends and of nightmares.” Fans of literate supernatural suspense will be pleased. Agent: Dan Conaway, Writers House.
February 15, 2015
Sandrine Salome flees Gilded Age New York and her monstrous husband for Paris where she seeks refuge with her infamous French courtesan grandmother. But upon her arrival, she finds the family mansion strangely closed for repairs and her grandmother suspiciously evasive. Ignoring her grandmother's warnings, Sandrine uncovers the truth from Julien Duplessi, an enticing young architect her grandmother employed. She and Julien develop a deep attraction that only intensifies with each clandestine visit. They also make some startling discoveries while exploring the house that may explain Sandrine's sudden obsessive need to paint and her otherworldly connection to a long-dead ancestor. VERDICT Rose's (The Collector of Dying Breaths) latest paranormal thriller mixes reality and illusion, darkness and light, mystery and romance into a sensual adult fairy tale. She stirs her readers' curiosity and imaginations, opening their eyes to the cultural, intellectual, and artistic excitement that marked the Belle Epoque period. Rose's unforgettable full-bodied characters and richly detailed narrative result in an entrancing read that will be long savored. [See Prepub Alert, 9/22/14.]--Debbie Haupt, St. Charles City-Cty. Lib. Dist., St Peters, MO
Copyright 2015 Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.
March 1, 2015
Popular author Rose (Seduction, 2013) sets her new trilogy in belle epoque Paris, where Sandrine Salome has fled after her cruel husband drove her beloved father to suicide. Sandrine seeks sanctuary with her grandmother, a famed courtesan, but she is perturbed when her grandmother tells her that the family home is under renovation. Sandrine sneaks into the house and discovers that a handsome architect, Julien Duplessi, is working to turn the house into a museum. Upset by the news, Sandrine begins to explore the hidden recesses of the house, discovering a series of beautiful paintings created by her ancestor, Lunette Lumiere, known as La Lune, and her lover, a renowned painter. Sandrine gradually finds herself consumed by passion for both painting and Julien, who is engaged to a beautiful opera singer. Sandrine's grandmother is horrified when she learns about Sandrine's new pursuits, convinced that Sandrine has been possessed by La Lune's spirit. Rose expertly builds suspense as Sandrine gives into her deepest desires and La Lune's influence, and the twist ending sets up the next entry in this gothic trilogy.(Reprinted with permission of Booklist, copyright 2015, American Library Association.)