The story opens when Daphne Le Marche the owner of a successful skin care company located in Europe, calls her longtime solicitor/lawyer Edward Badger to her bedside so she can adjust her will. This adjustment is life changing for the entire Le Marche family and where the story begins.
When Bille March/Sibylla who lives in Australia, receives a call out of the blue to attend the reading of the will of Daphne Le Marche, she is not interested. Can her mother Elisabeth convince her to at least go and see what is in the will?
Celeste Le Marche also gets that same invitation or more like a summons to the reading of the will and for both this will make an interesting pairing that turns into family secrets and a life changing story that I found intriguing.
Kate Forster is a story teller. I loved the twists and turns of this saga, and I could not stop reading until I learned what would happen to each character. She does an excellent job of revealing secrets and lies told by the characters and in some cases, I felt sorry for them That is the mark of a great story.
In addition to secrets, it is also a book that allows growth of the women in business empowering them to create change and overcome obstacles.
While the story moves back and forth between the present and past it was seamless and well done. Other characters introduced to add flavor to the story that I enjoyed and stayed up way too late reading because I was caught up.
I would recommend this highly particularly if you like stories about life issues, family and more with romance that caused me to tear up it was so lovely.
I would be remiss if I didn’t add that I received an advance copy ebook that had some editing issues I hope will be corrected before the final release. It didn’t take away from the story for me. Buy this book!
Reviewed by: Linda C
Edward wrote quickly and then handed the papers to Daphné, who lifted her hand.
Where do I sign?’ she asked with a tired sigh. Dying was exhausting, she thought. No wonder people only did it once in their lifetime.
Edward picked up a book from her bedside table for her rest the paper on.
‘The Book of Perfumes,’ he said with a wry smile. ‘Still working, are you?’
‘I am always working,’ she said tiredly, as the door opened and the nurse came into the room. ‘Even on my deathbed, I am working.’
‘Can you witness this, please?’ Edward asked the woman, in a tone Daphné admired. He had grown into a confident man and she trusted him, which was as rare in business as it was in love.
The nurse watched as Daphné signed her hand and then Edward and the nurse added their signatures to the document.
‘It is done,’ said Edward, in a deferential tone, after the nurse left the room.
‘I don’t envy you,’ she said, a small smile creeping onto her face.
‘Why is that?’ he asked, as he packed his papers into his satchel.
‘What is about to come, I am sure I don’t pay you enough.’ She laughed a little, happy at the thought she could still create waves, even after her death
‘I am capable of handling anything, I’ve been taught by the best,’ said Edward, reaching down and touching her hand. Her skin was cold, but her grasp firm, as she held his hand.
‘Thank you,’ she said, meaning it deeply. Edward had been her greatest support over the last years and she hoped he could be the same for the girls.
‘Look after my petites-filles,’ she said, so tired now.
‘I will, and I will be back to see you again,’ he said, his thumb stroking the back of her hand.
She nodded, but she knew he wouldn’t be back while she was alive. If there was one thing Daphné Le Marche knew how to keep it was a schedule.
After Edward had gone, and the fire was dying in the grate, she saw the colour she had been chasing her entire life.
Dernières lueurs—the perfect afterglow.
And she cursed God that she could never replicate it in her lifetime. All she had ever wanted was to create a product that gave women the glow as though they had just fallen in love or made love or even both. She touched her own cheek with her hand and tried to remember when she last had that glow.
It was too long ago, she thought sadly, and she closed her eyes and slept, and between the hours of two and four, just as she had suspected she always would, Daphné Hélène Le Marche née Amyx died. She had never been late to a meeting before, and she sure as hell wasn’t going to be late for this one.
Kate lives in Melbourne, Australia with her husband, two children and two dogs, and can be found nursing a laptop, surrounded by magazines and watching trash TV or French films. Kate is the author of the adult novels; The Perfect Location, The Perfect Retreat, Seduction and Close Up. She has also written five young adult romance books including; Unlucky Break, Head over High Heels, Beauty and the Beat, Piece of Cake and Twice Upon a Time.
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