Tuesday, September 22, 2015

Bookish Thoughts: Paris Time Capsule by Ella Carey

The parcel was wrapped in brown paper and tied with an unblemished silk ribbon. ~ Opening of Paris Time Capsule


Paris Time Capsule by Ella Carey
Lake Union Publishing, 2015
Romance; 290 pgs

From Goodreads: 
New York–based photographer Cat Jordan is ready to begin a new life with her successful, button-down boyfriend. But when she learns that she’s inherited the estate of a complete stranger—a woman named Isabelle de Florian—her life is turned upside down. 
Cat arrives in Paris to find that she is now the owner of a perfectly preserved Belle Époque apartment in the ninth arrondissement, and that the Frenchwoman’s family knew nothing about this secret estate. Amid these strange developments, Cat is left with burning questions: Who was Isabelle de Florian? And why did she leave the inheritance to Cat instead of her own family? 
As Cat travels France in search of answers, she feels her grasp on her New York life starting to slip. With long-buried secrets coming to light and an attraction to Isabelle de Florian’s grandson growing too intense to ignore, Cat will have to decide what to let go of, and what to claim as her own.
Imagine learning that you have inherited the estate of a person you have never heard of before. Imagine traveling to Paris to find out just what that estate might be, learning it is an Époque apartment, one that even the stranger's family had not known about. New York photographer Cat Jordan is intrigued and flummoxed, not sure she should accept such an inheritance given the stranger's daughter and grandchildren are still alive. Cat decides she cannot accept the inheritance, not without first understanding what exactly the tie is between this Isabelle de Florian and her own grandmother--why exactly this Frenchwoman left her estate to Cat. Isabelle de Florian's grandson, Loic, wants to know the truth too, and together he and Cat begin their search for answers.

Oh, what a dream come true this would be! Even though I haven't exactly had this dream . . . Still. Imagine! I quite enjoyed this lovely story in all its historical intrigue and fairy-tale-esque charm. Loic, of course, is good looking, but also extremely nice and ever the gentleman. I liked him from the start. I liked Cat too, but I do wish she had a little more back bone. She seemed a bit too passive. She worried at times that she was intruding on the de Florian family by wanting to know more about the woman who first owned the apartment, Marthe de Florian and her daughter Isabelle, seeming to forget her own tie to it--through her grandmother. Didn't she want to know more about her own grandmother and what part she played?

It was obvious the attraction Loic felt for Cat and she for him, even despite her commitment to a well to do business man back in New York. Cat had long sworn she would not fall into a marriage like her own parents, wanting a marriage in which her opinion and desires would be respected. Even from the very first page, I knew he was the wrong man for her. 

I loved the setting of the novel, the descriptions of France, the countryside, the city, the villages . . . I longed to be there myself, standing in Cat's shoes. It was so obvious she was in her element there, and I quickly grew fond of Loic and his family.

A mystery and a romance, Paris Time Capsule, was both romantic and intriguing. I was completely fascinated by the look back in history, during the Belle Époque and later, the Nazi's occupation of France and how it tied to Cat and Loic in the present.  Even more fascinating is that the apartment at the heart of this story, the one belonging to the granddaughter of Marthe de Florian, is real, having been discovered in 2010. While the majority of the story in this novel is complete fiction, it does make one wonder at the possibilities.

Overall, I quite enjoyed this novel. I do wish Cat had shown more insight into her relationship with Christian, especially in the end, but I cannot complain about the outcome. It was just how it should be.


To learn more about Ella Carey and her book, please visit the author's website. She can also be found on Goodreads, Twitter, and Facebook.


I hope you will check out what others had to say about Paris Time Capsule on the TLC Book Tours route!



Many thanks to the TLC Book Tours for the opportunity to be a part of this book tour. I purchased a copy of this book myself.




© 2015, Wendy Runyon of Musings of a Bookish Kitty. All Rights Reserved. If you're reading this on a site other than Musings of a Bookish Kitty or Wendy's feed, be aware that this post has been stolen and is used without permission.

22 comments:

  1. I would love for something like that to happen to me. This book sounds fun!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Kathy - Wouldn't it be wonderful? I did enjoy this book, and am glad I took a chance on it.

      Delete
  2. I really like the sound of the historic details and the descriptions of the countryside and villages!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Jenclair - The historical details were definitely my favorite (isn't that often the case with me?). I really liked the setting too. The author made me feel like I was right there.

      Delete
  3. I really enjoyed this book as well. I listened to it on audio and it was really well done. I love books that are aet in Paris. What a dream it would be to have something like that happen. Lol.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Darlene - I am glad you liked it too! I haven't always been drawn to the Paris setting, but it's grown on me. :-)

      Delete
  4. This sounds like a fun read. Plus it has a Paris setting! :)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Melody - It was a fun read! I think you might like it, Melody.

      Delete
  5. Hmm, whilst there are aspects of this book that do appeal it has to be said that to me it isn't a novel that shouts 'read me'. Still, glad that you enjoyed it even if it does seem as if you had some reservations about it.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Tracy - Yes, this book wasn't perfect--at least not in my own opinion--but there was enough about it that I did like that I could overlook the things I didn't care for and still enjoy it.

      Delete
  6. This looks like fun. I'm in a bit of a reading funk and think I need to go on a romance binge :)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Stacy - Romance can be good for a reading funk. Something light and easy. :-)

      Delete
  7. Glad you enjoyed this one but I don't think it's one I would be rushing out to get although I would read it if I came across it. I do love Paris though I haven't been since I was a teen.

    Lainy http://www.alwaysreading.net

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Lainy - Paris makes such an interesting setting. I would have liked more from this novel, but I enjoyed it just the same.

      Delete
  8. When an author puts so much effort and detail into creating the setting it becomes like a character and I love that.

    Thanks for being a part of the tour!

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Heather - Yes, even the apartment itself was sort of a character of its own. I love it when a novel like this is tied to real history.

      Delete
  9. Talk about a grown up fairy tale right? Really sounds like a good read for when you just want a nice, comforting read. Great review, Wendy. Will have to add it to my list.

    ReplyDelete
  10. Paris Time Capsule sounds like a fun one, love the setting.

    ReplyDelete

Thank you for taking the time to visit Musings of a Bookish Kitty. Don't be shy! I would love to hear from you. Due to a recent increase in spam, I will be moderating all comments for the foreseeable future. Please be patient with me as it may take a few hours before I am able to approve your comment.