Phoebe always dreamt of opening her own vintage dress shop. She imagined every detail, from the Vivienne Westwood bustiers hanging next to satin gowns, to sequinned cupcake dresses adorning the walls. At the launch of Village Vintage, Phoebe feels the tingle of excitement as customers snap up the fairytale dresses. Her dream has come true, but a secret from her past is casting a shadow over her new venture. Then one day she meets Therese, an elderly Frenchwoman with a collection to sell, apart from one piece that she won't part with... As Therese tells the story of the little blue coat, Phoebe feels a profound connection with her own life, one that will help her heal the pain of her past and allow her to love again.
“A captivating story about the power of friendship . . . More than a novel, it is a recipe for happiness.”—Anne Fortier, New York Times bestselling author of Juliet Every dress has a history. And so does every woman. Phoebe Swift’s friends are stunned when she abruptly leaves a plum job to open her own vintage clothing shop in London—but to Phoebe, it’s the fulfillment of a dream, and her passion. Digging for finds in attics and wardrobes, Phoebe knows that when you buy a piece of vintage clothing, you’re not just buying fabric and thread—you’re buying a piece of someone’s past. But one particular article of clothing will soon unexpectedly change her life. Thérèse Bell, an elderly Frenchwoman, has an impressive clothing collection. But among the array of elegant suits and couture gowns, Phoebe finds a child’s sky-blue coat—an item with which Mrs. Bell is stubbornly reluctant to part. As the two women become friends, Phoebe will learn the poignant tale of that little blue coat. And she will discover an astonishing connection between herself and Thérèse Bell—one that will help her heal the pain of her own past and allow her to love again. BONUS: This edition contains an A Vintage Affair discussion guide and an excerpt from Isabel Wolff's The Very Picture of You. “Romantic and sumptuous, this is a must for fans of vintage dresses and vintage romance.”—Hester Browne, author of The Little Lady Agency “This colorful new novel has something for everyone. There is mystery, romance, great characters, as well as London and France.”—Naples Daily News “Deftly blends past and present, romance and mystery, and a theme of forgiveness and redemption.”—Mary Kincaid, HuffPost
Message in a bottle. Somewhere in the cobwebbed cellar of the decrepit antebellum mansion known as Ballineen are the legendary Lee bottles--and Austin Gillespie is there to find them. The last thing on his mind is hot and heavy romance with handsome bad boy PI Jeff Brady. But Jeff has other ideas and, after one intoxicating night, so does Austin. The only problem is they have different ideas. Jeff doesn’t believe in love at first sight, and even if he did, he's buried more deeply in the closet than those famous missing bottles of vintage Madeira. Popping a cork or two is one thing. Popping the question? No way. No how. Unless Austin is ready to give up on another dream, he's going to have to figure out how to make sure the lights go on--and stay on--in Georgia.
Before Peter Hapworth meets Izzy, he knows the difference between Pinot Noir and peanut butter, but that's about it. Lonely and frustrated with his academic career--as well as with dating--his life takes a sudden turn one night when he turns on the television. He's transfixed by the woman staring back at him, a glass of wine swirling delicately in her hand--Isabelle Conway, one of the preeminent sommeliers in the world. There's something about her. Somehow, he feels like he already knows her. On a whim, he pitches himself as a guest on her popular TV show, and the two embark on a whirlwind courtship. But relationships require a delicate balance of nurturing and belief, much like winemaking. Hapworth and Izzy must navigate the complex mysteries of wine--and the heart--from glamorous social events and domestic tribulations in Chicago to the vineyards and rocky bluffs of Santorini in Greece. Vintage Attraction is a rich and insightful novel by an exciting literary talent.
"[This] book is part memoir, part decorating manual, part entertaining guide, but most of all it's a portrait of a creative couple and their very beautiful, utterly comfortable home."-
Drawing on newly declassified government files, this is the dramatic story of how a forbidden book in the Soviet Union became a secret CIA weapon in the ideological battle between East and West. In May 1956, an Italian publishing scout took a train to a village just outside Moscow to visit Russia’s greatest living poet, Boris Pasternak. He left carrying the original manuscript of Pasternak’s first and only novel, entrusted to him with these words: “This is Doctor Zhivago. May it make its way around the world.” Pasternak believed his novel was unlikely ever to be published in the Soviet Union, where the authorities regarded it as an irredeemable assault on the 1917 Revolution. But he thought it stood a chance in the West and, indeed, beginning in Italy, Doctor Zhivago was widely published in translation throughout the world. From there the life of this extraordinary book entered the realm of the spy novel. The CIA, which recognized that the Cold War was above all an ideological battle, published a Russian-language edition of Doctor Zhivago and smuggled it into the Soviet Union. Copies were devoured in Moscow and Leningrad, sold on the black market, and passed surreptitiously from friend to friend. Pasternak’s funeral in 1960 was attended by thousands of admirers who defied their government to bid him farewell. The example he set launched the great tradition of the writer-dissident in the Soviet Union. In The Zhivago Affair, Peter Finn and Petra Couvée bring us intimately close to this charming, passionate, and complex artist. First to obtain CIA files providing concrete proof of the agency’s involvement, the authors give us a literary thriller that takes us back to a fascinating period of the Cold War—to a time when literature had the power to stir the world. (With 8 pages of black-and-white illustrations.)
Spanning the eras from the Titanic (1910s) to mid-century glamour (1950s), Vintage Weddings 101 shares a look at wedding trends and traditions from times gone by, offering lots of information to help you decide on your era and implement elements from that time period into your event. Full of helpful tips about how to choose an era, how to do your research, finding venues, picking vintage rings, authenticity, hair, makeup, music playlists- even how to build relationships and work professionally with your vendors, this is an invaluable resource for putting on a big or small classy, sophisticated affair. Combining old-fashioned advice with practical knowledge and guidelines for navigating the wedding planning process in a modern world, Vintage Weddings will help you focus on what’s important and what’s not so you can be well-rested, prepared, and relaxed on your wedding day. Dotted with real-life situations the author and her staff have encountered in her 10 years of attending and planning other peoples’ weddings and experiencing the horror of her own big day being ruined, this book is intended to not only help you put on the glamourous wedding of your dreams but to avoid pitfalls and possible problems along the way and afterwards. Plan your wedding timeline from 18 months down to the day of the event with confidence, manage expectations, and navigate the rocky situations with your vendors, the bridal party, family, friends, and even children like a pro. We wish you the very best as you plan your wedding! About the Expert Celia Morrissey is a historian, vintage enthusiast and designer. She has worked for over 10 years as a professional photographer and event designer. When it comes to weddings, she has been in the trenches on the wedding day with her clients through both extraordinary, heartwarming and also the unthinkable events. Celia has written this book because she wishes somebody had given her this kind of advice many years ago when her own wedding day was ruined. She has seen her clients struggle through navigating the planning and implementation process as well. Since her wedding day, one of Celia’s missions in life is to help other couples emerge from the wedding planning process to enjoy a successful, beautiful wedding day and enjoy beautiful photographs to remember it by for years to come. HowExpert publishes quick 'how to' guides on all topics from A to Z by everyday experts.
