The Woman from Paris: Santa Montefiore (4 stars) Review & Giveaway

The Woman from Paris Book Summary

When Lord Frampton dies in a skiing accident, a beautiful young woman named Phaedra appears at his funeral, claiming to be the Lord’s illegitimate daughter. In his will, Lord Frampton has left her the priceless Frampton suite of sapphires, confirming her claim and outraging his three adult sons and widow, Antoinette. Eventually, however, Phaedra’s sweet nature thaws the frosty relationships. She becomes the daughter that Antoinette never had and a wise and compassionate granddaughter to the formidable Dowager Lady Frampton. But an undeniable attraction grows between Phaedra and Frampton’s eldest son, David. It seems an impossible love—blocked by the fury of one family member determined to expose Phaedra as a fraud. Featuring the enchanting characters, scenery, and emotional complexity her fans adore, The Woman from Paris is a sweeping, sophisticated romance about family, forgiveness, and the surprising strength of love.

Publisher: Simon and Schuster
ISBN: 9781451676686
Pages: 400
Release: February 5, 2013

Review

Nothing is sweeter than a story with enchanting characters who reach through the pages and welcome you to their lives. In The Woman from Paris, the characters and scenery sweep you into the story of the Framptoms. When Lord Frampton dies in a tragic accident, his family is fragile and reeling from loss.  In walks Phaedra, a beautiful woman who claims to be his illegitimate daughter.

When the will is read, Phaedra is included in a very intimate way--she inherits the family jewels. Slowly, the family is drawn to Phaedra. Lord Frampton's widow, Antoinette, starts to see the possibilities in embracing the daughter she never had. Even his sons start to come around, especially the new Lord Frampton, David. 

As the family begins to heal, David and Phaedra grow close. They know they must fight the growing intensity of their feelings, since life has fated them to be brother and sister. Or has it? Not everyone is so happy to see Phaedra join the family, and one in particular is determined to expose her as a fraud.

The Woman from Paris is a showcase for the enduring power of love and family. Although teeming with memorable characters, my favorites were Margaret, Lord Framptom's mother, and Antoinette. Both women faced down life's disappointments in favor of focusing on love and family. Their strength is the backbone of the story.

Because I felt so connected to the characters, I stumbled a bit when the story took a turn I wasn't expecting--a turn that ultimately strengthened the power of the message. If you are drawn to delightful characters and a story rich in love and family, look no further. Your heart will enjoy and appreciate the investment.

Rating: 4 stars

Santa Montefiore's Bio

Santa Montefiore is the internationally bestselling author of several novels, including The French Gardener and The Last Voyage of the Valentina. She lives in London with her husband, historian Simon Sebag-Montefiore, and their two children.

For more information on the author, please visit her website, Facebook page, on Twitter, and on GoodReads.

Buy The Woman from Paris

Amazon

Barnes & Noble

Simon & Schuster (Hardcover / eBook)

Kindle 

Nook

This is a blog tour, please visit The Woman from Paris blog tour page for more stops.

Note: I received a complimentary copy from Tribute Books for review purposes. No other compensation was received. A positive review was not guaranteed or requested; the views expressed are my own.

For more information on Tribute Books, please visit their website, on Facebook, and on Twitter.

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Giveaway

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I'm thrilled to be giving away a hardcover copy of The Woman from Paris to one lucky reader (open to US mailing addresses only).

To enter to win, please leave your name and email address in the comments below. The contest will close at 5:00pm EST on Friday, January 18.

I will put each name in a hat and have my trusty assistant (my lovely 12-year-old daughter) pick one. The winner will be announced here.

Good luck!