About the book:
A charismatic man with a legacy that long outlives him
A forgotten woman whose fate is forever tied to his
And the family whose history is still being written
***
Toulouse, France--1879
Catalan orphan-turned-fugitive Viviana Torrens has found sanctuary serving in the home of an aging artist in Southern France. It is in his studio that she meets Francisco Vella, a Gibraltarian merchant who sells artists' pigments. When her past catches up to her, she is compelled to pose as Vella's sister and join him on his travels or be deported back to Spain to stand trial. Along the way she will discover that the many parts she has been playing in order to hide her identity have far-reaching implications she never could have foreseen.
East Lansing, Michigan--Present Day
Esther Markstrom and her artist mother have always been proud of their ancestor, painter Francisco Vella. They even run a small museum and gallery dedicated to raising awareness of his scandalously underappreciated work. But when Esther reconnects with her former art history professor, she finds her once-solid family history on shaky ground as questions arise about Vella's greatest work--a portrait entitled The Lady with the Dark Hair.
This dual-timeline story from award-winning author Erin Bartels takes you on a captivating journey across time and continents, where past and present converge in a relentless search for truth, identity, and the freedom to follow one's dreams.
A forgotten woman whose fate is forever tied to his
And the family whose history is still being written
***
Toulouse, France--1879
Catalan orphan-turned-fugitive Viviana Torrens has found sanctuary serving in the home of an aging artist in Southern France. It is in his studio that she meets Francisco Vella, a Gibraltarian merchant who sells artists' pigments. When her past catches up to her, she is compelled to pose as Vella's sister and join him on his travels or be deported back to Spain to stand trial. Along the way she will discover that the many parts she has been playing in order to hide her identity have far-reaching implications she never could have foreseen.
East Lansing, Michigan--Present Day
Esther Markstrom and her artist mother have always been proud of their ancestor, painter Francisco Vella. They even run a small museum and gallery dedicated to raising awareness of his scandalously underappreciated work. But when Esther reconnects with her former art history professor, she finds her once-solid family history on shaky ground as questions arise about Vella's greatest work--a portrait entitled The Lady with the Dark Hair.
This dual-timeline story from award-winning author Erin Bartels takes you on a captivating journey across time and continents, where past and present converge in a relentless search for truth, identity, and the freedom to follow one's dreams.
My review:
I'm still not sure quite what I thought of this book. On one hand, it was fascinating to learn about these different cultures and time periods and what a different and difficult life Viviana led. Esther didn't have it so easy, either. Esther's difficulties dealing with a mentally ill mother must have been frustrating and tiring as the only caregiver. I love looking at paintings and I especially love impressionism so I ended up reading about some of the artists mentioned that Viviana met in France and looking at their paintings online. It was a fascinating time and strange to think that that style was so controversial then. It didn't feel like there was much about faith in the story. Viviana mentioned having faith in God but I don't remember if Esther ever talked about it. The story really dealt with identity and being who you are, not trying to be someone else or who you think someone wants you to be. It's about discovering how to be content in your own skin, which is a great place to be. I enjoyed the book and I think you'll especially like it if you love art!
I received this book free from Revell. I was not compensated for this review. All opinions are my own.
THE AUTHOR
Matthew Mitchell Photo Erin Bartels
Erin Bartels writes character-driven fiction for curious people. Her readers know to expect that each of her novels will tell a unique story about fallible characters so tangible that it's hard to believe they are not real people. Whether urban, rural, or...
Continue reading about Erin Bartels
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