So, immediately we have an intriguing story unfolding as we read. Grace is a farm girl, living with her parents, growing up in a close rural community, her best friend on a nearby farm, and falling in love with the boy from another farm. She has an uncle who lives in Sydney, and loves her infrequent trips to the big city. Then the war comes along, ruining everything. The boy comes back a changed man, her uncle who went off to war fails to return. In Sydney and Melbourne, Grace does a stint of modelling for the Christian Dior fashion show, and discovers a devastating secret forcing her to flee her unravelling life, going to - where else - Paris! As you do.
Following her success during the tour to Australia, she is welcomed at the House of Dior becoming a huge success. Paris is wonderful, a beautiful magical place to be, but her main mission is to find her uncle. Naturally she falls in love, there are numerous challenges along the way, mistakes made, and there is a happy ending. What else would one expect!
However, don't think that this is a syrupy frothy love story. Grace is a great character, with plenty of courage and personality. She is also prone to jumping to conclusions which leads her into all sorts of misunderstandings, that in the end of course are all ironed out. Paris is written about with joy and love, as are the workings of the House of Dior. What a wonderful immersive and fascinating environment to be working in. Famous clients of Dior pop up - Princess Margaret, Jacqui Bouvier, Wallis Simpson - lending the story an air of authenticity. Most enjoyable story.
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