Moonlight Over Paris

by Jennifer Robson

An aristocratic young woman leaves the sheltered world of London to find adventure, passion, and independence in 1920s Paris in this mesmerizing story from the USA Today and internationally bestselling author of Somewhere in France and After the War is Over. Spring, 1924 Recovering from a broken wartime engagement and a serious illness that left her near death, Lady Helena Montagu-Douglas-Parr vows that for once she will live life on her own terms. Breaking free from the stifling social constraints of the aristocratic society in which she was raised, she travels to France to stay with her free spirited aunt. For one year, she will simply be Miss Parr. She will explore the picturesque streets of Paris, meet people who know nothing of her past-and pursue her dream of becoming an artist. A few years after the Great War's end, the City of Light is a bohemian paradise teeming with actors, painters, writers, and a lively coterie of American expatriates who welcome Helena into their romantic and exciting circle. Among them is Sam Howard, an irascible and infuriatingly honest correspondent for the Chicago Tribune.
Dangerously attractive and deeply scarred by the horror and carnage of the war, Sam is unlike any man she has ever encountered. He calls her Ellie, sees her as no one has before, and offers her a glimpse of a future that is both irresistible and impossible. As Paris rises phoenix-like from the ashes of the Great War, so too does Helena. Though she's shed her old self, she's still uncertain of what she will become and where she belongs. But is she strong enough to completely let go of the past and follow her heart, no matter where it leads her? Artfully capturing the Lost Generation and their enchanting city, Moonlight Over Paris is the spellbinding story of one young woman's journey to find herself, and claim the life-and love-she truly wants.

• ISBN10: 0062389831
• ISBN13: 9780062389831
• Publish Date: 19 January 2016
• Publish Status: Active
• Publish Country: US
• Publisher: HarperCollins Publishers
• Imprint: Collins
• Format: eBook
• Pages: 352
• Language: English

Reviews

[Whitney @ First Impressions Reviews]

At first, Moonlight Over Paris reminded me of Now Voyager. A young woman goes on a trip alone after an illness and ends up not only finding herself and independence but also unexpected love. The comparisons stop there. Jennifer Robson’s novel is as unique as the drawings Helena sketched with vibrantly painted depictions.

Helena’s group of friends were eclectic, each with their own story to tell and wished the author would have dived deeper as I feel the surface was barely scraped and instead merely came and went to give Helena encouragement.

The romance between Helena and Sam was predictable, yet I find most romance novels to be so. It was still cute, clever and found myself rooting for the them. This, along with exciting backdrop of Paris in the 1920s created a wonderfully readable novel.
At the beginning of Helena and Sam’s acquaintance, they share a meal of onion soup and was described as thus:

The soup was simple, nothing but onions and broth and at the bottom of the bowl, she soon discovered, a piece of dark country bread. It was the single most delicious meal she’d ever had. In no time at all, she was staring into her empty bowl and wishing she had an extra piece of bread to soak up the last drops of broth.

This is how I felt about Moonlight Over Paris, it was a delicious tale whose’s end I did not want to come and wished for a second help upon the last word.