Discovering a priceless collection of Dior gowns in her grandmother's vacant cottage, a fashion conservator delves into the mystery of their origins in the years following World War II while uncovering her beloved grandmother's remarkable story. - (Baker & Taylor)
Discovering a priceless collection of Dior gowns in her grandmother’s vacant cottage, a fashion conservator delves into the mystery of their origins in the years following World War II while uncovering her beloved grandmother’s remarkable story. Original. 200,000 first printing. - (Baker & Taylor)
From the New York Times bestselling author of The Paris Orphan comes an unforgettable historical novel about a secret collection of Dior gowns that ties back to the first female pilots of WWII and a heartbreaking story of love and sacrifice.
England, 1939: The Penrose sisters couldn't be more different. Skye is a daring and brash pilot, and Liberty the one to defy her at every turn. Even if women aren't allowed in the Royal Air Force, Skye is determined to help the war effort. She's thrilled when it reunites her with her childhood soulmate, Nicholas. She's less thrilled to learn Nicholas is now engaged to an enigmatic Frenchwoman named Margaux Jourdan.
Paris, 1947: Designer Christian Dior unveils his glamorous first collection to a world weary of war and grief. He names his debut fragrance Miss Dior in tribute to his beloved sister Catherine, who forged a friendship with Skye and Margaux through her work with the French Resistance.
Present Day: Fashion conservator Kat Jourdan discovers a priceless collection of Dior gowns in her grandmother's vacant cottage. As she delves into the mystery of their origin, Kat begins to doubt everything she thought she knew about her beloved grandmother.
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Grand Central Pub)
Natasha Lester worked as a marketing executive for L'Oreal before penning the New York Times and internationally bestselling novel The Paris Orphan. She is also the author of the USA Today bestseller The Paris Seamstress. When she's not writing, she loves collecting vintage fashion, traveling, reading, practicing yoga and playing with her three children. Natasha lives in Perth, Western Australia.
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Grand Central Pub)
Booklist Reviews
*Starred Review* Her grandmother is a complete stranger. That is the only conclusion Kat Jourdan can reach once she discovers a cache of Dior gowns hidden away in Margaux Jourdan's old cottage in Cornwall. Now Kat must not only figure out how Margaux became the owner of 65 priceless dresses, but she must also determine whether historian Elliott Beaufort's claim that Kate's grandmother is the very same WWII spy he has been researching for his latest book. As Kat and Elliott work together to uncover more information about Margaux, they find a connection not only to the House of Dior but also to the remarkable Penrose women and their friends and lovers, whose daring helped win the war. Best-selling Lester (The Paris Orphan, 2019) effectively finesses multiple timelines in her latest sweeping family saga written in elegant, evocative prose that is as carefully stitched together as a couture gown. Her meticulous attention to period details, impeccable plotting, and rich characterization will delight fans of Kate Morton or anyone in need of a gorgeously wrought, old-fashioned (in the best possible way, with echoes of Rosamunde Pilcher's The Shell Seekers) tale of love, loss, courage, and compassion. Copyright 2020 Booklist Reviews.
