Despite the title, the story doesn't actually take place in Paris. Most of it takes place in an English village.There are two story lines, one in the present day, involving Laurel returning with her daughter, Annie, to a place where she spent time when she was younger. As Annie is trying to learn more about her mother's past, readers are also made aware of the events that happened thirty years earlier.
Annie meets a man in a pub who begins to tell her stories, providing her with the information she is seeking. I especially enjoyed the stories that took place in the past. And the the eccentric Duchess of Marlborough is an entertaining character. I like that the author does her research and includes these historical characters. Also having seen a Boldini exhibit last summer, I appreciate the art history.
Sometimes I'm bothered by absurd coincidences, but that wasn't the case with this story. These seemed to make sense.
Really good story. The past and present story lines worked well, kept the reading guessing for the most part as to the secretes waiting to be revealed.
My only issue was with the man Annie was planning to marry. He came across as a little too perfect and wonderful. Every time something would happen, Annie would email him for suggestions and then spout his advice as if he were some all-knowing being. For some reason, that really put me off.
Overall though, a really nice story, one I'd readily recommend.
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