Ella Carey Knihy

Premôže zmarené nádeje sila lásky? Píše sa rok 1946 a sny začínajúcej umelkyne Rebeccy Swiftovej o láske a o živote, ktorý nezväzujú konvencie, sa rúcajú tak prudko, ako rozbúrené vlny bičujú austrálske pobrežie. Nepokojné vody sa jej napokon stanú osudnými. O štyridsaťjeden rokov sa rúcajú aj sny newyorskej redaktorky Tess Millerovej, lebo úspešného autora, s ktorým spolupracovala, jej preberie nový kolega. Román nedoceneného austrálskeho básnika Edwarda Russella o neznámej umelkyni je slabá náplasť na jej rany. Onedlho sa však ukáže, že ho zrejme podcenila. Jeho román je nielenže pravdivý, ale otvára tajomnú komnatu podmaňujúceho príbehu tragickej lásky z obdobia povojnového modernizmu. Keď Tess odhalí dlho skrývané tajomstvo, ešte väčšmi ju vtiahne do Rebeccinho záhadného života a smrti.

Anna žije pokojným a usporiadaným životom v San Franciscu. Keď jej milovaný starý otec Max prezradí udivujúce tajomstvo, svet sa jej obráti hore nohami. Dozvedá sa, že pochádza z aristokratickej rodiny, ktorá v druhej svetovej vojne prišla o majetok. Navyše, Max pred sedemdesiatimi rokmi v rodinnom sídle v starom Prusku ukryl veľmi cennú vec. Momentálne si želá len jedno – aby vnučka stratený poklad našla a priniesla mu ho. Čo môže byť pre starého pána až také dôležité? A prečo jej rodinu nikdy ani len slovkom nespomenul? Anna sa teda vydá do Nemecka a pri hľadaní odpovedí stretáva Wila, muža, ktorý jej pomáha riešiť záhadu a ktorý ju neodolateľne priťahuje. Spoločne s ním zistí, že tajomstvo ich rodiny je úzko späté s opusteným bytom v Paríži a že táto záhada je oveľa komplikovanejšia, než si vie predstaviť.

Set against a backdrop of destruction, the story follows Kate as she encounters a hauntingly beautiful little girl in a tattered dress amidst the ruins of a once-grand mansion. The girl's striking blue eyes captivate Kate, compelling her to forge a connection in a world ravaged by conflict. This poignant moment hints at themes of hope, resilience, and the enduring spirit of innocence amidst chaos, inviting readers to explore the depth of human connection in dire circumstances.

"1942, New York. As war rages in Europe, Lily Rose is grateful for her perfect life: the love of her wealthy uptown parents in their beautiful brownstone overlooking the park and her dream job as a chef at one of New York's finest restaurants, the art deco dream that is Valentino's. But in her heart, Lily is drawn towards the bohemian Sicilian community in Greenwich Village, where gorgeous fresh fruit spills onto the pavement and the smell of freshly baked cannoli tempt her inside every Italian deli. Part of the attraction is Tom Morelli, talented chef and handsome grandson of Sicilian immigrants, whose deep brown eyes call to her and set her heart on fire. As wartime rationing bites in the city, Lily and Tom stay up late, dreaming up delicious meals that will see Valentino's through the war and distract New Yorkers from the threat of sons and sweethearts being called up. Lily knows he has found the key to her heart. Then Tom receives a devastating summons that changes everything: he is drafted to Italy. He must return to his beautiful homeland to fight a desperate war. Suddenly alone, with only the memory of Tom's last kiss, Lily turns to her parents for support. But when her mother finds out about her relationship, she is furious. When the war ends, Lily's duty is to marry the man picked for her, raise children and never work again. They give her a heartbreaking ultimatum: end her relationship with Tom and give up her job or lose her family and inheritance forever. Lily knows she must follow her heart to Valentino's and to Tom. But when Tom is declared missing in action, Lily is totally heartbroken. If she pursues her dreams, will there be anything left for her when the war is over?"--Back cover

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.

The story follows Eva as she endures a harrowing plane crash, capturing the intense moments of fear and desperation as she struggles to survive. The narrative immerses readers in her chaotic experience, from the overwhelming sound of the engine to the distant sirens, culminating in her fight to reach safety. This gripping tale explores themes of survival and resilience in the face of disaster, highlighting the instinctual drive to overcome life-threatening situations.

Set against the backdrop of World War II, the story follows Vianne as she navigates the chaos of Paris under siege. In a moment of desperation, she witnesses the destruction of her childhood memories when the church, a symbol of her past, is engulfed in flames. This harrowing event thrusts her into a fight for survival, as she grapples with the loss of loved ones and the challenges of living in a war-torn city. Themes of resilience and sacrifice emerge as she faces unimaginable choices.

Heartbroken and alone, Boston art curator Sarah West is grieving the recent deaths of her parents and the end of her marriage. Ultrasensible by nature, she's determined to stay the course to get her life back on track. But fate has something else in mind. While cleaning out her father's closet, she finds a letter from the famous Parisian courtesan Marthe de Florian, dated 1895. The subject? Sarah's great-great-aunt Louisa's death. Legend has it Louisa committed suicide...but this letter implies there's more to that story. Determined to learn the truth, Sarah, against her nature, impulsively flies to Paris. There she's drawn into the world of her flatmate, the brilliant artist Laurent Chartier. As she delves deep into the glittering Belle Époque to unravel the mystery, Sarah finds that her aunt's story may offer her exactly what she needs to open up to love again. Following Sarah in the present day and Louisa in the 1890s, this moving novel spans more than a century to tell the stories of two remarkable women.

In 1946, artist Rebecca Swift's dreams of love and a life free from convention are crashing like the waves of the Australian coast below her. And it's into those roiling waters that she disappears. Forty-one years later, Tess Miller's dreams are crashing, too. The once-successful New York editor has lost her most prestigious author to the handsome new golden boy of publishing. Meanwhile, she's stuck with Edward Russell, a washed-up Australian poet writing a novel about some obscure artist named Rebecca Swift. But Tess may have underestimated Russell. His book is not only true--it's a searing, tragic romance and a tantalizing mystery set in a circle of postwar modernists. When Tess uncovers a long-hidden secret, she's drawn even deeper into Rebecca's enigmatic life and death. As Rebecca's past intertwines with the present, Tess finds herself falling for the last man she thought she'd ever be drawn to. On the way, she discovers the power of living an authentic life--and that transcendent love never really dies.

A beguiling painting holds the secrets of a woman's past and calls into question everything she thought she knew about the man she loved... Nearly sixty years ago, renowned London artist Patrick Adams painted his most famous work: a portrait of his beloved Emma Temple, a fellow bohemian with whom he shared his life. Years after Patrick's death, ninety-year-old Emma still has the painting hanging over her bed at their country home as a testament to their love. To Emma's granddaughter, Laura, the portrait is also a symbol of so much to come. The masterpiece is serving as collateral to pay Laura's tuition at a prestigious music school. Then the impossible happens when an appraiser claims the painting is a fraud. For Laura, the accusation jeopardizes her future. For Emma, it casts doubt on everything she believed about her relationship with Patrick. Laura is determined to prove that Patrick did indeed paint the portrait. Both her grandmother's and Patrick's legacies are worth fighting for. As the stories of two women entwine, it's time for Emma to summon up the past--even at the risk of revealing its unspoken secrets.