Review: The Disappearance of Astrid Bricard

Natasha Lester has become a Must Read author for me ever since I read her novel The Paris Secret at the end of 2020. I love how she approaches historical fiction and how she weaves (pun intended) fashion into her stories. The Disappearance of Astrid Bricard is her latest and it’s another winner.

Here’s the book’s description:

Three generations. One chance to prove themselves. Can the women of the Bricard fashion dynasty finally rewrite their history?
French countryside, Present: Blythe Bricard is the daughter of famous fashion muses but that doesn't mean she wants to be one. She turned her back on that world, and her dreams, years ago. Fate, however, has a different plan, and Blythe will discover there is more to her iconic mother and grandmother than she ever knew.
New York, 1970: Designer Astrid Bricard arrives in bohemian Chelsea determined to change the fashion world forever. And she does―cast as muse to her lover, Hawk Jones. And when they're both invited to compete in the fashion event of the century―the Battle of Versailles―Astrid sacrifices everything to showcase her talent. But then, just as her career is about to take off, she mysteriously vanishes, leaving behind only a white silk dress.
Paris, 1917: Parentless sixteen-year-old Mizza Bricard has made a to be remembered on her own terms. Her promise sustains her through turbulent decades and volatile couture houses until, finally, her name is remembered and a legend is born―one that proves impossible for Astrid and Blythe to distance themselves from.

There are some definite Daisy Jones and the Six vibes about this story but Lester’s novel is entirely her own. The focus is on fashion instead of music but the time period is similar, as is the gossip, sex, drugs, and rock and roll atmosphere. I wouldn’t say music or fashion are huge passions of mine but Lester, like Jenkins Reid, was able to hook me with a world I may never have read about. Which would have been a damn shame.

Like Lester’s other novels, and many other historical fiction stories, this was a multi-timeline novel. I’m honestly getting a little over that…would we call it a trope? Storytelling choice? I don’t know why it’s been such A Thing in historical fiction but here we are. But Lester uses the three timelines well, for the most part. The bulk of the novel is dedicated to Astrid and Hawk during the seventies as their personal and professional lives collided in a spectacular explosion. Then there was Blythe in what the book’s description calls “present” but is actually the 2010s (I want to say 2012?). Finally, Lester introduces Mizza in 1917 and follows her through both World Wars, focusing on what she was involved in during WWII. 

Mizza’s storyline is where things got a bit muddled which is interesting since, of all the characters, she’s the only person who actually existed. Lester notes at the end that much of Mizza’s background is unknown and, like a lot of French women who lived through World War II, she never spoke of what happened during that time. I don’t really mind when authors take liberties with real people, and I don’t think that was my issue with Lester’s treatment of Mizza. As intrigued as I was with Mizza and how the Bricard dynasty began, I felt like it was a totally separate story and didn’t quite mesh with Astrid and Blythe’s story. 

I never, ever feel like Lester does an info dump in her novels, which is surprising since there is always so much new-to-me information in her stories! I love love love how passionate she is about fashion and how she inserts interesting (and relevant) details into her novels about the world of fashion. She does her research on other historical tidbits too which make the novels feel authentic and such a joy to read.

The Disappearance of Astrid Bricard isn’t going to usurp The Three Lives of Alix St. Pierre as my favourite Natasha Lester novel but that doesn’t mean it’s not a great read. I still loved it! Other historical fiction lovers will find a story that is interesting, emotional, informative, and entertaining all at once. I definitely recommend it!

*An egalley of this novel was provided by the publisher, Forever, via NetGalley in exchange for review consideration. All opinions are honest and my own.*

Review: Never Blow a Kiss

I think many of us can say Bridgerton is the reason we started reading historical romances, whether we first discovered the series twenty years ago or five or maybe even just last week. I know I didn’t read much before I “met” the family but, since then, I’ve tried out a number of series to see if I could find another that intrigued me as much, or more. I’ve found a few gems so I was happy to try Never Blow a Kiss, the first book in Lindsay Lovise’s new series Secret Society of Governess Spies.

Here’s the book’s description:

The utterly charming Emily Leverton has a dark past and is determined to leave it behind in her respectable new role as a governess. But when she is recruited by a secret network of governesses who spy on the ton, it may just be a way to redeem the dark secrets of her past.
Straddling the worlds of the ton and the working class, as an ex-solider turned railroad magnate, Zach hunts killers for the Metropolitan Police by day and dutifully attends balls at night. In neither world has he met a woman with the brazenness to mock him. So when a saucy governess blows him a kiss he is determined to catch her, never expecting that when he does he will find an intelligent, quirky woman hiding more than her true name. As Zach peels back the layers of Emily’s lies, he falls for the street-wise woman who handles a dagger like a pro and kisses like a mistress. But when his affair with Emily intertwines with his hunt for a killer, he discovers Emily is hiding an explosive secret—one that could destroy them both.

I flew through this novel but not necessarily because I was loving it. It was fine - it kept my interest (mostly - I definitely skimmed a little) and I was invested in the characters but it was, well, just fine. The mystery was weak, I have no idea how accurate it was historically, but it was the romance that kept me coming back to the story. We’ll get back to that!

First, the mystery. I like when historical romances have an element of crime and intrigue because it usually means the female characters are no simpering heroines. I also just like a good mystery. This…was not a good mystery. I don’t know if I just stopped paying attention to the nuances (if there were any) but I feel like there were a few holes in the mystery and the reveal of the serial killer. Justice was served but my modern sensibilities may have expected a different wrap up to the mystery.

I really did love the characters though. Even when I thought they were being boneheaded (we’ve all felt that about romance leads, have we not?). I respected that Emily wanted to keep some things close to her chest though I felt her Big Secret took too long to be revealed. I can see that Lovise was going for shock value but it was a bit lost on me as I was way over it by the time it came around for the Third Act Breakup. That frustration aside, I respected Emily and how she had been able to get herself out of a hellish situation. I loved her for many of the same reasons Zach did - she was smart and feisty. Zach had a rough childhood as well and now his vast fortune meant the ton couldn’t ignore him (but they’d ignore his background, of course). I liked that you could tell he wasn’t letting his obscene amount of money go to his head and he tried to keep busy by helping out with the newly formed police force.

Now, the romance! Because I cared about the couple as people, it was so easy to become invested in their relationship. Considering Zach had to do a lot of encouraging and persuading to convince Emily that sex could, in fact, be pleasurable for both parties, this book was steamier than I expected. It was sexy without being over the top with a few scenes that would have ladies of the ton fluttering their fans and fainting dead away. Zach was not going to push Emily at all and he wasn’t going to do a thing without her explicit consent and Emily could tell she’d be safe to explore the “tingly” feelings with him. And that mutual respect made things a hell of a lot sexier.

Never Blow a Kiss was Lindsay Lovise’s first novel and it was a fine first book. I’m not entirely sure I’m intrigued enough in the series and her writing to continue but I think historical romance fans might still consider picking this one up. It’s a quick read with characters you’ll love so it might be perfect to curl up with on a chilly winter weekend.

*An egalley of this novel was provided by the publisher, Forever, via NetGalley in exchange for review consideration. All opinions are honest and my own.*

Review: Red String Theory

I wasn’t in love with Lauren Kung Jessen’s debut novel, Lunar Love (review here). But I still enjoyed her approach to romances, her writing, and the sound of her second novel, Red String Theory. I’m glad I gave this one a chance - especially in audiobook form - as it was a really enjoyable romance that I’m still thinking about, a few days after finishing it.

Here’s the book’s description:

Just a date . . . or a twist of fate?
When it comes to love and art, Rooney Gao believes in signs. Most of all, she believes in the Chinese legend that everyone is tied to their one true love by the red string of fate. And that belief has inspired her career as an artist, as well as the large art installations she makes with ( obviously ) red string. That is until artist’s block strikes and Rooney begins to question everything. But then fate leads her to the perfect guy . . .
Jack Liu is perfect. He’s absurdly smart, successful, handsome, and after one enchanting New York night—under icy February skies and fueled by fried dumplings—all signs point to destiny. Only Jack doesn’t believe. And after their magical date, it looks like they might be lost to each other forever . . . until they’re given one more chance to reconnect. But can Rooney convince a reluctant skeptic to take a leap of fate?

Like the heroine in Lunar Love, Rooney is a bit too set in her views on romance (and fate). I appreciated that she believed in love so much and I love the idea of stringmates (when two people are connected by an invisible string and are considered soulmates) but it seemed so limiting and I felt it was really harming her romantic life. But, as an artist, she was curious so even with her set beliefs about love, she did try to approach life a little differently.

I loved that Rooney was an artist and Jack worked at NASA. These are not careers you may expect to see collide in a romance but it was so much fun. Their views on the world could not have been more different but it was a beautiful example of how a couple can succeed (and thrive) because they approach things differently but love and respect the other and their opinions. And the way they supported each other? Gah, it was so wonderful.

While the romantic relationship between Rooney and Jack was, you know, kind of the point of the romance, I think the story was made stronger by the familial relationships included. Rooney and her mom had a tight and unique bond since it had been just the two of them against the world for Rooney’s whole life. And while Jack didn’t have a close relationship with his parents, his grandfather had been a constant in his life and I adored every scene Gong Gong was in.

Finally, a note on the audiobook! I find romances can sometimes be less enjoyable on audiobooks for some reason but the narrators for this one? Oh, they sold me on the story immediately. Yu-Li Alice Shen and Andrew Grace were the narrators for Red String Theory and they did a great job. I liked that it was dual narration and, bonus, they read all the dialogue too. I have listened to many books where the narrator does a terrible opposite gender voice and the story and my enjoyment is harmed because of it. It was a really enjoyable narration and I would definitely listen to either narrator again.

Red String Theory was a delightful, sweet romance from Lauren Kung Jessen. I’m so happy to have read it and look forward to reading her next book.

*An egalley was provided by HBG Canada and an ALC was provided by Forever, both via NetGalley, in exchange for review consideration. All opinions are honest and my own.*