The Velvet Hours - Alyson Richman

I got lost in this story set in Paris.  We meet Marthe De Florian, in 1888 Paris, a girl who grew up in poverty and re-invented herself, first working as seamstress, then as a dancer and finally as a beautiful courtesan to a wealthy man.  In her beautiful apartment she surrounds herself with pastel gowns, Ancient Japanese artifacts and an amazing painting done of her in her prime.

In 1940 Solonge is beginning to find out secrets about her family and everything is changing as she begins to feel the rustling of war approaching.  As the story swung between both characters I thought the author used this technique well, moving the story on.  It did feel a bit rushed at the end, with just a few chapters to move the story to the end. 4/5

The Lost Wife - Alyson Richman

The Lost Wife - Alyson Richman (2011)

I'm a bit of a sucker for a second world war love story.  Our story is about Lenka an art student and Josef a medical student, who fall in love in pre war Prague.  As the Nazis approach each family becomes desperate, and Lenka and Josef marry.

However they are unable to leave together, and are forced apart and Josef with a new family in America, spends sixty years wondering about his first love.

Ahh it was a sweet weekend read - 4/5.